What You Need to Know Before Hitting the Road for Memorial Day
It may be hard to avoid, but steer away from Friday.
— -- Memorial Day has become synonymous with heavy traffic for those hitting the road for the long weekend.
And in a year where gas is cheap and people are already driving more than ever, we could see one for the ages this weekend.
According to crowd-sourcing navigation app, Waze, traffic is inevitable, but drivers can save a lot of time and frustration by knowing when to hit the road and when not to.
Waze analyzed previous Memorial Day app usage, as well as the four weeks before and after to create a traffic comparison baseline.
Here’s what they came up with:
Steer Away From Friday During the Day
Friday is the big day. Waze says they see an increase in cars on the road between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m, with traffic peaking between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The app also indicates a 36 percent increase in reports of potholes, roadkill and other user-submitted hazards during Friday.
Drive on Saturday or Sunday
If traffic is the make-or-break factor when planning your trip, Saturday or Sunday are your days to hit the road.
In fact, data shows the Sunday before Memorial Day will have even less traffic than a normal Sunday.
Monday Is All About the Timing
Monday is similar to a regular weekend with morning and evening peaks, with one caveat.
The worst traffic will occur between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.