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Memorial Day Travel to Set a New Record as Drivers Face $4.50 Gas and Peak-Hour Jams

High pump prices near four-year highs reflect tight oil supplies tied to the Iran conflict.

Overview

  • AAA expects about 45 million people to travel 50 miles or more this weekend, including 39.1 million drivers, with the national gas average near $4.53 a gallon Tuesday.
  • INRIX projects the heaviest traffic Thursday and Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and again Monday afternoon, with Sunday likely the easiest day to drive.
  • For New York City to the Jersey Shore on the Garden State Parkway, Friday around 2:15 p.m. could nearly double the trip to about 2 hours 57 minutes, according to INRIX.
  • GasBuddy warns prices could jump again before the weekend because of Iran-related supply fears, and Cincinnati drivers already saw roughly 40-cent increases in a day.
  • Rental car demand is set to peak on Thursday and Friday, with Hertz citing heavy pickups in Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston.