Marylanders Hit The Road For Memorial Day Weekend
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- This Friday kicks off the start of summer for most of us. This Memorial Day weekend it's going to feel like most of us are on the road.
Alex DeMetrick has a look at what you can expect if you're planning on getting away.
Ocean City's first big weekend of summer is expected to bring big crowds, based on the number of room reservations.
"It's going to be a busy weekend. We're going to be expecting 225,000 to 250,000 people this weekend," said Ocean City Mayor, Rick Meehan.
"Nationwide we are expecting 34.9 million travelers over the holiday weekend," said AAA spokesperson, Lon Anderson.
Maryland's share of that exodus will top 719,000.
Most travel will be by car with 659,000 Marylanders hitting the road. Mirroring a national trend, more will be flying. Nearly 61,000 have booked tickets for their holiday destinations. More than 14,000 will travel by train and bus.
Those numbers could go higher as gas prices drop.
"This is the first time that we have seen gas prices go down before Memorial Day," said Anderson.
But AAA's survey finds filling a tank is going to mean less spending on vacations.
" Other ways to cut back be it spending a little less on dining or other recreational activities, perhaps going to parks or beaches," said AAA spokesperson, Ragina Averella.
More travelers will mean more work for police.
If the Bay Bridge factors in your plans, the people who collect the tolls say Thursday before 2 p.m. is the best time to cross. On Friday, the earlier the better.
