Record number of drivers across central Alabama expected to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Going into Memorial Day weekend, the American Automobile Association is projecting a record 45.1 million people from across the country travelling at least 50 miles away from home for the holiday.
Many families across central Alabama have already begun their travels and are taking advantage of some of the lowest gas prices nationwide since 20201, as seen by the number of cars at the Buc-ee's gas station in Leeds Friday. One of the drivers fueling up for her trip was Lydia Hendricks, who will be heading with her mother from Atlanta to Memphis with a 15-year-old and a 4-year-old on board.
'We actually got on the road at 10:30,' Hendricks said. 'We had a lot to do this morning.'
Hendricks said new parents who are travelling with children who haven't been potty trained yet should constantly ask whether they need to go to the bathroom, as well as limit their water and juice.
Another Memorial Day traveler we caught up with at Buc-ee's was Jonathan Castleberry and his wife, who were on their way to Chesapeake, Virginia.
'So we've got a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old, so just wish us luck,' Castleberry said. 'That's all I've got to say.'
Maggie Raab, who is on a road trip with her family to Charleston, South Carolina, offered the following advice for safe holiday driving.
'Stay off the phone, keep your eyes on the road, and try to be patient,' Raab said.
Clay Ingram with AAA Alabama said peak travel times over the next several days will be in the afternoon, especially along I-65 with many heading to the beach. Ingram said that when it comes to a safe trip, it could help to let someone else in the car handle all the other duties that go along with those trips, letting the driver focus on driving.
'When the traffic volume is high, more cars around you than usual, so reaction time is less, your margin of error is less, so not being a distracted driver is much much more important,' Ingram said.
Ingram is also reminding drivers of Alabama's hands-free laws, making it illegal to drive a car while talking with a cellphone in your hand.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Breaking Barriers: Virginia Beach implements bilingual signs for beachgoers
The video above is from a May 2025 WAVY report on beach safety. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – As summer officially approaches, the City of Virginia Beach wants visitors to the beach to stay safe. Virginia Beach has implemented a new safety measure to reach a broader audience of residents and tourists. Virginia Beach EMS has partnered with Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service and the U.S. Coast Guard to install over 60 bilingual signs, in both English and Spanish, on lifeguard stands across the Oceanfront and Sandbridge beaches. The signs were installed in time for the busy Memorial Day weekend. Virginia Beach safety reminders ahead of summer season The Virginia Beach Oceanfront attracts local residents and visitors from outside the state, for its waves and tourist amenities. The new signs include a QR Code, which links to the City's . The page has a link to the oceanfront safety map that shows water hazards or advisories in real time which give citizens information that could potentially be lifesaving. Each sign includes details about red flag warnings, rip currents, and general beach safety precautions. 'The signs allow better language access along the Oceanfront and an ability to get the same safety information if some beachgoers don't read or speak English,' said Rob Gramkowski, EMS assistant chief – special operations. 'The signs ensure we are keeping everyone as safe as we can.' 'By adding a second language, it's inclusive and allows more people to pay attention to a warning,' said Drew Reibel, Sandbridge lifeguard supervisor. 'It also allows us to effectively communicate and give information to our visitors and residents from different backgrounds.' For more information, check out for beachgoers. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
6 hours ago
Nor'easter brings heavy rain to millions
ABC News' Ginger Zee has the latest on the wet start to the Memorial Day weekend travel rush.
Condé Nast Traveler
10 hours ago
- Condé Nast Traveler
This Arizona Tiny Home Is a Desert Oasis Perfect for Stargazing
I never thought I'd be the one to say this, but long-haul flights are starting to wear me down. The cramped seats, questionable food, and—worst of all—constant temperature swings that make me feel like I've hit menopause at the ripe age of 30? No, thank you. These days, I find myself more drawn to exploring my own backyard. I love living on the West Coast, and there are still so many hidden pockets I've yet to discover—that's what brought me to Arizona. Grand Canyon Village, to be exact. My best friend of 28 years and I planned a Memorial Day weekend getaway centered on slow mornings in a '80s-style kitchen, making breakfast at 11 a.m., wine tastings, and lazy evenings sitting out on the deck watching the sunset. We booked a secluded tiny home just 40 minutes north of Williams, Arizona, known as the Gateway to Grand Canyon National Park. Upon arrival, we were welcomed with a bottle of red wine and, to my delight, a bag of chocolate chip and macadamia nut cookies. Despite being called a 'tiny home,' the two-bedroom space felt surprisingly open. The design was desert-meets-boho: whitewashed walls, plant prints, a sunny yellow accent chair, leather barstools, a blue-tiled shower wall, and desert-inspired pillows. The main living area featured a cozy two-seater couch, but the real gem was up the spiral staircase. At the top was a loft bedroom with a private balcony overlooking 12 acres of piñons, junipers, and prickly pear cacti. Because of the A-frame shape, I had a view of both the back and front of the house—all from the comfort of my queen-size bed. In the morning, sunlight flooded in softly, warming the space with a delicate amber glow that didn't interrupt my sleep. But it was nighttime that made this Airbnb unforgettable. Once it got dark, truly dark, I stepped out onto the balcony and was met with a sky packed with stars. Thanks to the Grand Canyon's status as an International Dark Sky Park, I saw more stars than I ever have in my life. Entire galaxies stretched across the sky. I wish I could have captured it, but being in that moment, fully present, was even better. Kayla Brock During the day, one of our favorite excursions was a two-hour drive south to Sedona. Known for its wellness retreats and wineries, we spent most of our time at D.A. Ranch Estate Vineyards, a nine-acre property originally homesteaded as a cattle ranch in the 1870s. We sipped on their Ranch wine flight—rosé, Seyval Blanc, and Tannat—while enjoying tempura shrimp and burgers from the on-site food truck. A tree swing at the entrance made for a perfect photo op, and the outdoor dining area, complete with a long wooden table shaded by a canopy, reminded me of summer camp dining halls. There's even a quaint pond you can wander around with a take-home glass of wine in hand. While the drive back to the Airbnb was long (for someone who doesn't drive often), there's nothing quite like having the windows down, Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter on repeat, and an open road ahead of you. Ending each day on the string-lit deck, curled up in an orange Adirondack chair with a glass of wine in hand, felt like the perfect send-off to our time in the Grand Canyon State.
