The best times to travel from Philly for Memorial Day vacation
Memorial Day travel is on course to be busier than ever.
Why it matters: More than 525,000 people in the Philly metro are expected to travel from Thursday through Monday, per AAA.
That's up 3% over last year and would be a record high for the long weekend.
State of play: Despite rising prices and economic uncertainty, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Jana Tidwell tells Axios people don't want to give up traveling, especially in the post-pandemic world.
"They're going to do it in a way that works for their budget," she said. "People will find a way to [travel]."
📈 Zoom out: AAA projects 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and May 26 — a new record.
That's up by 1.4 million travelers over last year.
🚗 Zoom in: Cars are the preferred mode of travel in the region this weekend, per AAA.
9 out of 10 are projected to drive to their destinations.
🏖️ Travel hotspot: The Jersey Shore is the place to be this weekend — duh.
Congestion along the Atlantic City Expressway will be the worst in the region during the holiday, per AAA.
Monday at noon is pegged as the worst time to drive along this route.
Pro tip: Hitting the road in morning is generally your best bet to beat traffic, per Inrix, which crunches transportation data.
The overall best times to drive: Before noon on Thursday and Saturday.
Friday: Before 11am
Sunday: Before 1pm
Monday: Before 2pm
The worst times to drive: 1–9pm on Thursday.
Friday: Noon–8pm
Saturday: 2pm–6pm
Sunday: 1–5pm
Monday: 4–7pm
✈️ Meanwhile, 38,000 people in the region will travel by plane this weekend — up 1.2% over last year.
Worth noting: Philadelphia International Airport will add new daily service to Edinburgh, Scotland, and Milan, Italy, starting Saturday.
Plus: American Airlines opens its Admirals Club Lounge and Flagship Lounge on Thursday.
The Chase Sapphire Lounge opened in February.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Welcome to our 2025 Delaware Summer Guide
And just like that, summer is nearly here. Visit us on Delaware Online for more stories every week about the beaches, as well as fairs and festivals, concerts and family fun, downtowns and museums and so much more. We will offer all the details you need for active recreation including camping, golfing, surf fishing, cycling, hiking and pickleball, water sports, boat rides and even Skee-ball. Visit us often for photo galleries from the Riverfront to the beaches, and everywhere in between, as well as updates on summer concerts, arts events, family fun and all the things that will make summer in Small Wonder all it can be. Memorial Day weekend is in the books, and the month of June is starting at the Delaware beaches. Insert sunglasses emoji here. While it was slightly easier than usual to find parking last weekend, there were some sure signs of tourism: Traffic stalled in Dewey Beach, long lines for Thrasher's fries and teens carrying out loud, awkward mating rituals on the boardwalk at night. (Overheard: "Hey, my friend likes you!") Some rebels in Delaware and Maryland will celebrate the Fourth of July in June, while others will keep the patriotic party going past the holiday. Of course, plenty of folks will observe America's 249th birthday right on July 4. Delaware isn't messing around when it comes to summer concerts this year, and some of them are already on pace to sell out. Here are 33 major concerts, including legendary artists across various genres, that will grace the First State this summer. Dining outdoors is one of the best aspects of summer. It's not hard to find a seat in Delaware where you can enjoy an al fresco restaurant experience. The backyard barbecue vibes are strong at the Crooked Hammock Brewery with locations in Lewes and Middletown. The Summer House in Rehoboth Beach has a "summer garden" adjoining the Rehoboth Avenue restaurant. It has chairs, tables with umbrellas, a large fountain, and seats at a long counter that faces the town's main thoroughfare. The best time to see the ancient wonders that are horseshoe crabs is now, as they return to Delaware Bay beaches for spawning season. Horseshoe crabs first developed 540 million years ago in the Paleozoic era, more closely related to arachnids than crabs. The amazing arthropods lived through the age and extinction of dinosaurs and many, many other species, and are sometimes called "living fossils." Today, the shallows of the Delaware and Chesapeake bays are essential habitat for one of the four living horseshoe crab species: the Atlantic horseshoe crab. Check out our photos from the Delaware beaches on the unofficial kickoff of Summer 2025 season. Memorial Day was the unofficial start of summertime, and parents will soon be bargaining with their teens about summer curfews after days at the beach and nighttime hang outs in Delaware. And while there's no statewide curfew, here's what parents need to know about curfew laws in several popular towns and locations in Delaware. Delaware offers a wide variety of public golf courses throughout the state. Courses range from short par-3 layouts to challenging championship courses. Terrain varies from hilly and tree-lined in the north to flatter and sandier in the south. If you're looking for some fresh air, exercise and the thrills and frustrations a round of golf can bring, the First State has you covered. Delaware's three counties boast dozens of golf courses open to the public, from par-3 layouts you can zip around in two hours to full-length, hazard-strewn championship courses that can provide all the challenge you can handle The state's varied terrain leads to a wide variety of layouts. Northern Delaware is known for its hilly, tree-lined courses. Southern Delaware shows off with flatter, sandier courses with plenty of water-lined holes. It's unofficially the start of summer this weekend: Memorial Day weekend. Here is what it's looking like right now at Rehoboth Beach as well as at beaches from Ocean City, Maryland, to the Hamptons in New York. Check out these live webcams. Memorial Day is fun almost here, and the fashion police are already salty – because they'll have to wait months before they can ticket Delawareans for rocking white after Labor Day. As a heads up, make sure your pedicure game is strong this summer – because questionable toes in flip-flops or open-toe shoes? That could land you an indecent exposure charge. As you rummage through your closet for the perfect Memorial Day outfit, here are some can't-miss entertainment events in the First State where you can show off your style over the holiday weekend. Festival season is just getting started in Delaware, and will soon be in full swing. This whirlwind of events will hit every part of the state, and aims to hit every interest. Here's a preview of notable fests that will awake from hibernation this spring and summer. Hardly a day goes by at the Delaware beaches in the summertime without some festival or concert or show to entertain the masses, but there are a few events that simply can't be missed. If you'll be at the Delaware beaches this season, here are the events you need to put on your calendar. With summer traffic and parking being what it is at the Delaware beaches, using public transportation is a no-brainer. Let someone else navigate Coastal Highway while you scroll on your phone. Get dropped off right at the boardwalk rather than parking blocks away from beach. Pay a few bucks to get driven around all day, as opposed to paying the same hourly for something missing?: 21 things Delaware beaches need to be more fun: beach concerts, swim-up bars, IMAX & more If all that sounds good, these are your options. Update your ParkMobile app now because pay-to-park season has begun at Delaware beaches. How much? During what hours? Where exactly? Can I use a credit card? What is the meaning of life? Don't get overwhelmed; we have answers to all your questions below. Well, mostly. Here are the prices of a few things you're likely to purchase on a day at the Delaware beaches: $4 an hour for parking $3.75 for a slice of Grotto pizza $3 for a bottle of water $7.50 for a small order of Thrasher's fries $5 for a Kohr Bros. frozen custard cone $20 for a T-shirt Multiply the total by the number of people in your family and a beach vacation may seem financially out of reach. One-stop summer planning: Welcome to our 2025 Delaware Summer Guide Money's tight, but that doesn't mean you can't have a good time at the Delaware beaches. After all, the sand and the surf are free, you just have to be frugal with the basics. Longwood Gardens isn't just a flowery name; it's a floral paradise. When guests sneak a peek behind Longwood's veil of rose petals, they'll find a world-class horticulture destination decorated with over 1,000 acres of vibrant foliage, fountains and more. While Longwood is open year-round, the summer is naturally an attractive time for many visitors around the globe to tour the gardens. Here's a preview of what you should know before making a stop at Longwood this summer. Another Delaware beach town now has a curfew for minors. The Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners on May 16 voted to establish a curfew for anyone under 18. Between 11 and 5 a.m. daily, juveniles are not permitted in public places or privately owned businesses unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Rehoboth Beach Police Department Chief Keith Banks asked the commission to adopt the law at the May 16 meeting. The department has seen a 110% increase in juvenile arrests over the past three years, he said. If you're looking for a low-cost summer 'day-cation,' try the nature centers throughout Delaware. They provide indoor and outdoor education and recreation, with displays on history, art and the environment – some with live animals – along with places to hike, special programs with nature experts and even picnics and concerts. Some also offer day camps for kids. For this story, we focused on nature centers operated by the Delaware Nature Society, state parks and the state Division of Fish and Wildlife. Centers more focused on history or art were included if they also offered nature programs. Springtime means flowers blooming, bees buzzing and tourists returning to the Delaware beaches. Locals, too, will be in the sand more now that temperatures are warming up, so what's changed during the off-season? Changes at the beaches are related to parking, tents and lifeguards, depending on which beach you're going to. Know before you go to save time and frustration. Here's what's different at the Delaware beaches since last summer: There's a big world outside of the Small Wonder worth exploring this summer. Don't believe us? Here's a preview of some major events near Delaware worth a mini road trip this spring and early summer. Two heavy hitters in the weather forecasting business have weighed in with their summer predictions: AccuWeather and The Old Farmer's Almanac. One is predicting slightly higher temperatures but near average rainfall for Delaware, while the other is forecasting warmer and drier weather compared with the averages. AccuWeather unveiled its summer forecast April 30, in a report by Brian Lada, meteorologist and senior content editor. Founded in 1962, AccuWeather has more than 100 meteorologists using more than 190 forecast models serving 100 TV stations, over 400 radio stations and 700 newspapers. In the Mid-Atlantic corridor along the East Coast, including Delaware, AccuWeather is predicting temperatures to be one to two degrees above average with precipitation between 75% and 124% of average. Rocking The Docks is looking to create a mini earthquake in Lewes this summer with 17 booming concerts, including Billboard artists, making this year's lineup its biggest yet. All shows went on sale on March 28. The 17 shows will be held over 11 weeks at the Lewes Ferry grounds at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal. Arguably, the two biggest shows of this year's concert season are the Philly rock band Low Cut Connie and The Amish Outlaws, a cover band that wears Amish outfits. Some of the members grew up Amish before deciding to leave their community to live the secular world and play instruments. While Low Cut Connie is more famous than the Outlaws, the Amish crew is wildly popular downstate. Ready to surf-fish on the Delaware beaches this summer? Not so fast. You need certain permits and licenses, and possibly a reservation. You need to check your tire pressure and throw a shovel in your trunk, and when you're on the beach, there are certain rules you have to follow. Delaware's surf-fishing regulations may seem complex, but we've broken it down for you. Here's what you need to know. Longwood Gardens, the Disney World of plants, is set to bring to life its magical Fireworks & Fountains Shows – six enchanting summer and fall events that will likely sell out fast. Tickets for the first three shows (July through August) go on sale to the public May 14. The second half of shows (August through September) go on sale to the public June 25. Step aside, Rehoboth Beach – because Dover Motor Speedway is getting a brand-new beach with cool attractions during NASCAR race weekend this summer. The Monster Mile will transform into "Miles Beach" from July 17-20. Miles Beach will be located in the Speedway's Fan Zone and feature dozens of family-friendly events and beach-themed attractions, many of which will be free. Another wave of big musical acts has been announced for the Freeman Arts Pavilion's summer concerts series near Selbyville, including new additions like ZZ Top and Young the Giant. The new lineup (below) features 12 more events and performers, including the Arts & Jazz Festival. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 11. Music stars previously announced for the Freeman Arts' 18th season feature standouts like The Beach Boys, Sam Hunt, Buddy Guy, Andy Grammer, Trombone Shorty and many more. More warm weather is on the horizon, which means it's time to head outdoors and enjoy the sunshine. Looking for a place to picnic and read? A location fit for a light hike and wildlife sightings? How about jumping through the waves before relaxing on the sand? Whatever you have on your agenda, there's a good chance one of Delaware's state parks will check many or all of the boxes required for your perfect day in the sun. With 17 options to choose from, it can be difficult figuring out which state park would be best for your activity of choice. Delaware's surplus of state and county parks, its many rider-friendly trails and roadways with bike lanes make it somewhat of a cycling paradise. As the weather warms, more will begin pushing their pedals as a form of exercise or travel in the great outdoors. With that in mind, here are a dozen Delaware bike rides that are particularly appealing and worth a try, starting up north and then moving south with four in each of the state's three counties: Birdwatching, known as 'birding' by enthusiasts, isn't as popular in the summer as in the spring and fall because of heat, humidity and insects. Plus, spring and fall bring migratory birds to Delaware so there are more species to spot. But with more daylight and vacations, summer is probably when people have the most time for the activity. Delaware is home to plenty of great places to see and hear well over 150 species, from common birds to the extraordinary. We asked experts for their top five summer birding spots, some of the species people can expect to see there and what you should bring to make your trip more enjoyable. Eager for fresh fruits, veggies and other items from local farms and growers this spring and summer?Delaware has a number of farmers markets, and many are opening soon. Here's your guide to this season's markets. Since its opening in the summer of 2023, Great Wolf Lodge Maryland has attracted thousands of Delaware-area residents to its largest water park yet. This summer, the chain is offering several limited-time deals and discounts. If you're craving a vacation without straying too far from home, here is your guide to booking and staying at Great Wolf Lodge Maryland. If you're looking for a promotion to attend a Wilmington Blue Rocks game this season, you're in luck. The Rocks have something going on before, during or after every home game. As the season approaches, here's a refresher on who the Rocks are, where they play, how to purchase tickets and much more. Every few years over the past decade, Delaware Online/The News Journal has published an occasional series called "What Wilmington needs to be more fun." A bit of a think-out-loud brainstorming session, we reach for the stars, but keep a dash of reality in our minds as we cook up ideas. Over the years, many have actually come to be: beer gardens (Constitution Yards Beer Garden, Maker's Alley), record store (SqueezeBox Records), another art house movie theater (The Screening Room at 1313), production brewery (Wilmington Brew Works), rooftop bar (The Quoin Hotel) and more. With the weather heating up, we figured it's time to turn our attention down south to Delaware's beaches, already a bastion for summertime fun. Newark wants to keep people coming back to its downtown while the Blue Hens are on summer break. Before saddling up to play Dover this summer, Delaware country star Jimmie Allen gave fans a Jay-Z-inspired message on Instagram: "I got 99 problems but a beer ain't one." Tickets are now on sale for Allen's concert at Bally's Dover Casino Resort on June 20. The lyrics Allen sang are from Justin Moore's 2024 song "Beer Ain't One" featuring Blake Shelton. (Justin Moore will play two nights at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach on July 24-25.)Before saddling up to play Dover this summer, Delaware country star Jimmie Allen gave fans a Jay-Z-inspired message on Instagram: "I got 99 problems but a beer ain't one." Tickets are now on sale for Allen's concert at Bally's Dover Casino Resort on June 20. The lyrics Allen sang are from Justin Moore's 2024 song "Beer Ain't One" featuring Blake Shelton. (Justin Moore will play two nights at the Bottle & Cork in Dewey Beach on July 24-25.) For many of us, going to the zoo is a summer tradition we look forward to every year. From watching lemurs and tamarins swing from branch to branch to feeding goats and alpacas right out of our hands, there's something at the zoo for everyone. And with summer just around the corner, both kids and kids at heart are itching to see their favorite animals and embark on yet another exciting, zoo-related adventure. While there seems to be plenty of uncertainty when it comes to tourism this summer, there are studies finding that Americans will be traveling this coming season — although maybe not as many. Despite the economic uncertainty, Americans aren't staying home, says the market research company Leger. Leger's study found 49% of Americans plan to take at least one leisure trip this summer and one in five are likely to travel for business, both consistent with 2024 levels. That's slightly less than last year when 51% Americans planned to take a leisure summer trip. The warmer weather means the end of the school year is right around the corner. Kids will be home. But the question may be, can they be home alone? It's a tricky question for any parent, but here's some help to aid you in your decision. Starbucks will unveil its full summer menu in May, but this week, it offered USA TODAY a sneak peek of some of the items that will be included. The company is unveiling a new Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, while bringing back the Summer-Berry Refreshers that were introduced in 2024, a spokesperson told USA TODAY. The coffee chain will also be debuting a new Strawberries & Cream Cake Pop. The Summer-Berry Refreshers, unveiled last year, featured a layer of popping raspberry flavored pearls at the bottom of the cup, adding fruity flavor to the drink. The refreshers were available in three flavors: Summer-Berry, Summer-Berry with Lemonade and Summer Skies. A summer vacation at the beach on a budget can be difficult, but here are tips on how to save money on hotels and motels. Usually, rates depend on how far away from the beach you stay, when you go on vacation, and if you only need a bare-bones place to rest your head or if you want a more luxurious room, with a small kitchen, a pool and room service. For this story, we searched national travel websites for hotel prices at the Delaware beaches under $300 per night from Memorial Day weekend to the last weekend in September and found rates starting at $93 per night. Opening day at Citizens Bank Park is a treat for the senses. As you walk through the parking lot, the tantalizing smell of brats and burgers cooking over charcoal lures you through the parking lot toward the stadium. Once in The Bank, you can smell the popcorn or spilled beer. You can hear the sizzling of Italian sausages, hot dogs and cheesesteaks at Hatfield Grill. You can hear the crunch of peanut shells. It all rewards you for making it through winter as you relax in your seat for a few hours of Phillies baseball on the first home date of the year. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Everything you need to know about enjoying your summer in Delaware
Axios
9 hours ago
- Axios
Richmond's Amtrak trains are fuller — and slower
While more people than ever are hopping aboard an Amtrak train in Virginia, train delays in the state seem to be getting worse. Why it matters: The on-time performance (OTP) rate for trains along the Northeast Regional line in Virginia — the line that runs through Richmond — is down 10% from fiscal year 2019, according to an Axios review of rail stats. The big picture: Like many travel sectors, Amtrak has been experiencing a post-pandemic surge in ridership. Last year, the rail company set an all-time ridership record nationwide with 32.8 million passengers hopping aboard a train in the last fiscal year. But its OTP has been ticking down overall, dropping from 80% in 2020 to 74% in 2022 and 2023, according to the most recent stats from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Zoom in: The Richmond corridor's OTP has been closer to 70% in recent years, slightly higher than the 69% for the whole Northeast Regional line, per Virginia Passenger Rail Authority data. That OTP comes as the Virginia Amtrak routes just set another all-time ridership record, this time for April. By the numbers: Thus far this year, Richmond's OTP is 65.4%, lower than the 71.9% for all Virginia Amtrak routes. In 2024, Richmond's OTP was 71% vs. 72.3% on all Virginia routes. In 2023, Richmond's OTP was 75.6%. The state's: 74.3%. ✈️ For comparison, the Richmond airport's on-time rate for departures is at 79% thus far this year, per the latest Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. It was 80% or higher for the previous five years. The fine print: The Richmond corridor includes all trains between D.C. and Richmond, Karina Romero with VPRA tells Axios. VPRA tracks OTP by the calendar year, while Amtrak does it by fiscal year. And according to both, OTP represents the percentage of stations where a train arrives within 15 minutes of its scheduled arrival time, Romero says. Between the lines: There are multiple reasons trains end up running late, including accommodating more riders, but the most common in Virginia tends to be heat restrictions, Romero says. That's because hot weather and the rail's steel lines do not mix well. Other issues that can delay trains include winter weather and, critically, interference from freight trains, which share tracks with Amtrak. In Virginia, two big freight lines, CSX and Norfolk Southern, also happen to own most of the tracks, too. Plus, there can be a domino effect. If a train is delayed heading south out of D.C., which is often where the Virginia bottleneck starts, it'll be delayed the rest of the way through Richmond. Yes, but: There's hope to speed up those trains.
Bloomberg
10 hours ago
- Bloomberg
A 2,000 Mile Saharan Dust Cloud Is Approaching Texas and Florida
A swirling gray haze forced Claribel Ramirez to shut her house to block out the fine grit that settled on every flat surface in Puerto Rico. The culprit? A 2,000-mile dust plume blown off Africa's Saharan Desert and sent across the Atlantic where it will reach Florida and possibly even Texas later this week. There, it will turn the sky a dull gray during the day and possibly provide some dazzling sunsets. And if the winds mix it down to the surface, the grit will make people sneeze, wheeze and plead for relief from the allergens and grime.
