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WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - This Memorial Day weekend is expected to be a record-setter in the D.C. region, with more people traveling this year than in the last two decades.
According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, 3.2 million people will travel from D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Most plan to drive.
It's the highest number of Memorial Day weekend travelers in our region since AAA started keeping track in 2000.
"When you have a bad economy and people don't feel good about their household finances or discretionary income or disposable income, they don't travel as much," said John Townsend, spokesman for AAA mid-Atlantic. "We're seeing a resurgence of traveling in this country and that's a good thing."
AAA says gas prices have increased by more than 30 cents in the last two months with the national average approaching $3 per gallon, about the same as last year.
Friday late afternoon is expected to be a busy time on the roads, but Townsend said in the D.C. region, drivers can expect Monday's traffic to be the worst of the weekend, specifically between 3:45 to 5:45 p.m.
"They can expect to increase gridlock 300%," Townsend said. "Routes like 50 coming back from the eastern shore-it's going to be what we call, the mother of all dragons of commutes."
It's not just supposed to be a record-setting Memorial Day weekend in our region, nationwide
AAA says expect the second highest travel volume since 2000.