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- AAA projects a record 45 million Americans will travel for Memorial Day 2025.
- Driving remains the most popular way to go, with 39.4 million expected to travel by car.
- Ohio road construction, especially in major cities, may cause significant delays.
- The best times to travel are mornings, while afternoons and evenings are expected to have the heaviest congestion.
Traveling for Memorial Day? You’re not alone. AAA expects a record-breaking 45 million Americans to travel over the holiday, up 1.4 million from last year.
AAA forecasts an uptick during this year’s Memorial Day holiday travel period from May 22 to May 26. That includes road trips, air travel and train.
Ohio road construction could also slow down your Memorial Day weekend drive. Here’s what to know.
Nearly 40 million people predicted to drive Memorial Day weekend
Most people will drive over Memorial Day weekend, with 39.4 million people projected to travel by car, about one million more travelers compared to 2024. This could lead to experiencing heavy traffic and delays when on the road.
Drivers traveling out of big cities, such as Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit, could see significant delays that are nearly double the typical travel time.
Traveling in or through Ohio? You might also need to plan for delays due to heavier traffic and road construction.
Ohio road construction may impact Memorial Day traffic, ODOT roadwork crews active
The Ohio Department of Transportation says that construction season is in full swing and to be aware of ODOT crews when traveling on the highways. Traffic, lane restrictions, and ramp closures on major roadways like I-70 and I-270 are possible, so drivers should plan ahead.
Bridgework in Toledo and reconstruction in Dayton and north of Cincinnati in Hamilton County could slow down drive times on I-75. Downtown ramp up work on I-70 and I-71 plus work at the I-71/I-270 interchange could hamper Columbus-area drivetimes.
To view active ODOT highway projects, visit ODOT’s online project search tool, where you can filter projects by name, type, status, or county.
The best and worst times to drive during the 2025 Memorial Day weekend
Drivers can expect roads to be the most congested during afternoon drives during Memorial Day weekend, according to transportation data and insights company INRIX. As usual with holiday weekends, the mornings are the best time to hit the road.
On Thursday, May 22, and Saturday, May 24, travelers should leave before noon. On Friday, May 23, the optimal time to start driving is before 11 a.m.
The worst time to drive to your destination will be between 1 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, and from noon to 8 p.m. on May 23. On Saturday, May 24, heavy congestion is expected from 2–6 p.m.
For returning home, INRIX expects the heaviest traffic from 1–5 p.m. on May 25 and from 4–7 p.m. on the holiday itself. Travelers should plan to leave before 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, and before 2 p.m. on Monday, May 26.
When is Memorial Day 2025?
Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 26, 2025.
