Travel on Memorial Day will be the busiest in two decades, and Chicagoans should expect traffic delays on the freeways and crowds at O’Hare International Airport.
Triple A predicts that 43.8 million people will travel across the country over the holidays, with 38.4 million by car and 3.5 million by plane. The rest travel by bus, train or even a cruise. In Illinois, about 2 million people will travel, slightly more than last year. That is not far removed from the record high of 2.2 million from 2005.
Experts say this will be the biggest Memorial Day holiday crisis in two decades as people have fully embraced post-COVID-19 travel.
Worst times to travel on Memorial Day
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, said drivers leaving Thursday or Friday should get on the road early to avoid mixing with commuters. Travelers returning home on Sunday or Monday should avoid the afternoon hours, when return travel peaks.
For example, a trip from Chicago to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon would take almost 2.5 hours, a 27% increase over regular travel times, according to INRIX.
Travelers in Chicago can also expect congested highways to popular destinations in southwestern Michigan.
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Historically, travel times peak on the Kennedy Expressway as it is a main route to O’Hare Airport. This year, the highways from Ohio Street to the Edens are closed for construction, adding to traffic congestion.
Worst places for traffic
CBS 2 traffic reporter Kris Habermehl said the worst “bottlenecks” will occur throughout the long-term projects.
In addition to the Kennedy, that would also include the Tri-State Tollway work zone between O’Hare and Ogden, I-80 from New Lenox to Minooka, I-80/94 from Hammond to Gary and the Indiana Toll Road, all of which are a lane reductions, lane shifts and reduced speed limits in the work zone.
“With the overall increase in traffic volume, it has become increasingly difficult to narrow down specific times to avoid,” Habermehl said. “Typically, the Memorial Day outing begins on Thursday afternoon, with the first surge in volume. The second peak begins Friday afternoon, with a return home late Monday.”
I-65 will also be very tough as race fans head to the Indianapolis 500, which takes place on Sunday.
Will airports be busy?
This will be the busiest Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million people flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally recovered after September 11.
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Chicago will be no exception. According to travel site Hopper, Chicago O’Hare has booked 801,000 departing seats this weekend, with the busiest times between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.
What is the average gas price?
The average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois is $3.93, a cent more than last year.
In the Chicago metro area, it’s much higher ($4.16), but that’s four cents cheaper than last year. That means a trip with one tank would save a driver about 60 cents for a 15-gallon tank.
Roadworks on Lake Shore Drive
The Chicago Department of Transportation is rehabilitating the South DuSable Lake Shore Drive segments between Roosevelt Road and 31st Street in both north and south directions.
Southbound lane closures are currently in effect. Two lanes will be closed daily between 4:00 PM and 9:00 AM; Three lanes will be closed during daytime working hours between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m
Suenos festival ticket in Grant Park
Annie Robillard
In Grant Park, the Suenos Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. and features more than 20 Reggaeton and Latin artists.
The celebration, now in its third year, is adjacent to Lake Shore Drive, Roosevelt Road and Columbus Drive, with the main entrances near Buckingham Fountain.
Suenos Festival
Street closures
- Balbo from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: May 15 – 30
- Columbus, from Ida B Wells to Roosevelt: May 23 – 27
- Balbo, Michigan to Columbus: May 23 – 27
Sidewalk barriers
- Michigan, from Jackson to Roosevelt: May 25 – 26
- Balbo (both sides, Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive: May 15 – May 30
- Balbo (both sides), Michigan to Columbus: May 23 – May 27
- Columbus (both sides), from Roosevelt to Balbo: May 15 – May 30
- Columbus (both sides), Balbo to Ida B Wells: May 23 – May 27
- DuSable Lake Shore Drive (south side), from Buckingham Fountain to Roosevelt: May 22 – May 28
- Congress Plaza Dr, from Michigan to Columbus: May 25 – 26
