Yahoo Movies Flying or driving from Kansas City for Memorial Day? What to expect, weekend travel tips
Families gearing up for a fun, long Memorial Day weekend can expect lots of traffic, both on the road and in the sky.
Despite the increasing gas prices and soaring plane tickets, many families are still looking to get away this week, pushing travel rates towards pre-pandemic levels, according to AAA Missouri.
“Memorial Day is always a good predictor of what’s to come for summer travel,” AAA Travel Senior Vice President Paula Twidale said in a statement. “Based on our projections, summer travel isn’t just heating up, it will be on fire. People are overdue for a vacation and they are looking to catch up on some much-needed R&R in the coming months.”
In Missouri, there is expected to be a 10% increase in travel this Memorial Day Weekend, in comparison to last year’s holiday. AAA Missouri’s Memorial Day forecast suggests that there will be around 700,000 drivers on the road, over 30,000 flyers and nearly 60,000 people on buses, trains and cruises this weekend alone.
Kansas will also see a 10% uptick in travel compared to last year, with at least 329,000 Kansans predicted to travel more than 50 miles from home for the holiday weekend.
What to expect if flying
For those who are catching flights, the increase in travelers and air traffic may lead to some delays, disruptions and cancellations, according to travel company Family Destinations Guide. In Missouri, there is expected to be a 21% increase in flyers between May 26 and May 30, compared to 2021.
Although the entire weekend will be quite busy, Thursday, May 26 is likely to be the busiest day for air travel and Monday, May 30 will be the least busy, according to AAA.
This increase in traffic might also lead to longer waiting times at check-in kiosks and security, so make sure to give yourself more than enough time to get to your gate. AAA suggests arriving two hours early for domestic flights and three hours earlier for international travel.
What to expect if driving
For those who are driving, Thursday and Friday are likely to be the busiest days on the road. To avoid traffic, drivers should hit the road during off-peak hours. In Kansas City, it would be best to avoid traveling between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., according to Tomtom’s traffic index.
If you are taking a longer road trip, always budget for gas. The average price of gas in Missouri and Kansas is $4.16 and $4.05, respectively. Both states still have some of the lowest averages in the country, so make sure to fill up here at home if you are traveling out of state. The national average gas price is $4.60 per gallon, according to AAA.
Tools like the AAA app and Gas Buddy app can help you track where to get the cheapest gas along your route.
To help your car on fuel efficiency, here are some tips from AAA Missouri:
Drive the speed limit and avoid hard accelerations. Instead, gradually increase your speed.
Use cruise control to make sure you’re maintaining a decent speed.
Enjoy the breeze and give your air conditioner a break.
Check that your tires are properly inflated to the right level.
When you get to a stop sign or red light, take your foot off the gas earlier so your car can slow down until it’s time to brake.
Drivers should also get their vehicles inspected to avoid any preventable mishaps on the road. If you do run into trouble or need to report a hazard on the road the Missouri State Highway Patrol has an emergency line that can be reached at 1-800-525-5555 or simply *55 if you’re calling from a cell phone. The Kansas State Highway Patrol can be reached at *47.
You can also sign up for alerts from the Missouri State Highway Patrol to monitor any changes on the road. You can also monitor the roads in Kansas here.
More questions about transportation around Kansas City? Ask us at kcq@kcstar.com.
