Back to normal: Spike in Memorial Day travel expected

A normal Memorial Day is finally on the horizon, including ceremonies honoring veterans, family vacations and maybe even some hot dogs doused in Heinz ketchup.

With the end of the covid-19 public health emergency May 11, and the halting of most pandemic restrictions, Americans have big plans for Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer.

About 42.3 million will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend, a 7% increase from 2022, AAA projects. It’s expected to be the third busiest since AAA started tracking holiday travel in 2000.

According to one of the owners of Vacation Station Travel in Greensburg, Michael Philopena, the predicted influx of travel in the wake of the pandemic comes as no surprise.

“We knew that as soon as the restrictions were lifted, the floodgates would open,” he said.

He noted the difference between last year’s Memorial Day travel and what is expected this weekend.

“Last year, people were still very hesitant to make the commitment to travel,” he said. “People were still concerned about being in a confined space and about being on an airplane.”

This year, travelers are flocking to Florida, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Europe for Memorial Day weekend.

“It’s returning to a pre-pandemic normal,” Philopena said.

International travel surged this year, said Tiffany Stanley, AAA East Central’s public and community relations manager. Bookings are 250% higher this holiday weekend compared to 2022.

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In Pennsylvania, air travel is predicted to be up by 9.2% from last year, according to Stanley.

The AAA manager says people are finally feeling comfortable on airplanes, buses and cruises, and are ready to travel again.

“Now they’re saying, ‘Hey, let’s hit that bucket list and let’s go ahead and start traveling again and making those memories,’ ” she said.

Nancy Peksa, manager of Scholastica Travel in Greensburg, said high inflation hasn’t deterred travel.

“The prices of things have gone up, the airline fares have gone up, but that doesn’t seem to stop people this year,” she said.

Michael Thomas, owner of Thomas Tours and Travel in New Kensington, attributes the high booking rates to pent-up demand.

“Now that covid rules have been lifted, people feel the freedom and they want to go,” he said. “As a result, they are willing to pay a little more this year.”

Vacation destinations in Western Pennsylvania are expecting increased visitors this weekend, in line with the national trend.

Christine Temple, director of communications for VisitErie, expects to see an influx of visitors when Presque Isle State Park, Pennsylvania’s only “seashore,” opens this weekend.

With their largest market being the Pittsburgh area, VisitErie expects many visitors this weekend “looking to have safe and enjoyable experiences,” Temple said.

Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild & SoakZone all anticipate high levels of visitors over the holiday, communications manager Tasha Pokrzywa said.

Kennywood in West Mifflin opens Friday, and its new attraction, Spinvasion, launches at 11:30 a.m. The alien-themed ride is the first of its kind in the country. Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier Township kicks off the season this weekend, offering free admission for veterans and military Saturday through Monday, with up to four discounted tickets at the main gate for friends and family members.

Pennsylvania state parks were affected differently by the pandemic, according to Wesley Robinson, press secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“The trend is actually working in reverse,” Robinson said.

State parks saw their highest levels of engagement during the pandemic, reaching around 47 million visitors in 2020.

“People were unable to go places, and parks became a great place to go,” Robinson said.

As people slowly returned to their in person jobs, however, numbers started to dip. Robinson believes many Pennsylvanians began to frequent municipal parks closer to home.

In 2021, state parks saw 42.2 million visitors, and 38 million in 2022.

“With that said, the 38 million visitors we got last year was still 10% higher than pre-pandemic levels,” Robinson said.

If you’re traveling

AAA warns motorists to plan ahead and drive safely this weekend, as the auto club expects to rescue over 480,000 motorists.

Stanley emphasized the importance of having key vehicle components checked, such as the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels. In addition, it’s important to plan ahead for airplane delays and traffic on the road.

“It’s best to hit the road as early as possible, or to wait until traffic dies down around 6 p.m.” she said.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike predicts more than 2.1 million motorists will head to their holiday destination via the turnpike, a 3.8% increase in traffic from 2022.

They recommend drivers visit Ramp up for Seasonal Travel | PA Turnpike for travel tips.

Gabe Monzo, Westmoreland County Airport Authority executive director, said the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity won’t be affected by Memorial Day travel.

“Unfortunately, we only have two flights and… our flights are normally full anyhow,” he said.

Allegheny County Airport Authority spokesman Matt Neistein said passengers should arrive at Pittsburgh International in Moon with plenty of time before their departing flights, especially on Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday, when there will be about 3,500 people departing before 7 a.m.

Projected seat counts for the holiday weekend are an 18% increase from 2022, and a 3% increase from 2019. The count measures the total seats on the aircraft that will serve Pittsburgh, arriving and departing, over the weekend.