MINNEAPOLIS— AAA expected Memorial Day weekend 2024 will be the busiest for travel in almost twenty years, and Minnesotans who want to live by the lake will certainly contribute to that.
Minnesota travelers will clog the highways and back roads as they head north into cabin country or across the border into Wisconsin. Friday morning storm can play a role in how successfully the previous trips start.
According to AAA, the busiest route and time of the holiday weekend is the return trip from Eau Claire to Minneapolis on Monday morning. By 8:45 a.m., westbound Interstate 94 will likely be 38% busier than normal, AAA estimates.
Many of the typical routes up north — highways 65 and 169 and Interstate 35 — will also likely be busier than normal, both leaving the city before the weekend and returning afterward.
If you’re driving out of town, AAA recommends leaving early in the morning or later in the evening, depending on the day you leave. On Thursdays and Fridays, it’s best to leave before 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m., according to AAA. When you return home, it is best to wait until after 7:00 PM on Monday.
Nationwide, AAA expects nearly 44 million people will travel 50 miles or more over Memorial Day weekend, a 4% increase over last year and near 2005 record levels. Of these travelers, 38 are expected to 4 million go by car.
MnDOT 511 and traffic cameras
Before you leave town, you can check live traffic information from across the state on the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s 511 website.
The site provides real-time insight into traffic congestion, accidents and construction on Minnesota’s many roads. It also allows you to view the state’s hundreds of traffic cameras to get an inside look at what traffic actually looks like.
Traffic tips from MnDOT
This past Memorial Day, MnDOT offered the following tips for motorists who may encounter holiday traffic, especially those traveling through it construction zones:
- Obey posted speed limits.
- Drive undisturbed.
- Move to the other side to give construction workers space to safely complete their work.
- Know before you go by checking 511.
- Be patient.
- Put the zipper together.
- Avoid unnecessary lane changes.
- Never enter a road blocked by barriers or cones.
- Expect work zones to constantly change.
