--- title: Memorial Day Weekend Traffic Will Be Worse Than Usual description: The AAA has a report explaining that the polar vortex is to blame for this weekend's bad traffic canonical: https://time.com/110737/memorial-day-weekend-traffic-polar-vortex/ author: Laura Stampler article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-05-23T18:09:38.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:48:39.174Z og:title: Here's Why Traffic Will Be Even More Terrible Than Usual This Memorial Day Weekend og:description: You probably should have started driving to your vacation destination yesterday og:url: https://time.com/110737/memorial-day-weekend-traffic-polar-vortex/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4a73d2cd43cac31d/698690becd6848ac52094ccb/86542073.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: traffic og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Here's Why Traffic Will Be Even More Terrible Than Usual This Memorial Day Weekend twitter:description: You probably should have started driving to your vacation destination yesterday twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4a73d2cd43cac31d/698690becd6848ac52094ccb/86542073.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Here's Why Traffic Will Be Even More Terrible Than Usual This Memorial Day Weekend by [Laura Stampler](https://time.com/author/laura-stampler/) ## Laura Stampler May 23, 2014 6:09 PM UTC  Traffic jam in downtown Chicago Traffic jam in downtown ChicagoGetty Images by [Laura Stampler](https://time.com/author/laura-stampler/) ## Laura Stampler May 23, 2014 6:09 PM UTC In case you needed one more reason to hate the polar vortex, AAA has a pretty good one for you. According to a [new report](http://newsroom.aaa.com/2014/05/harsh-winter-americans-start-summer-travel-season-memorial-day-getaway/), the never-ending winter inspired just about everyone to start their summer vacationing as early as possible. Plus, consumer spending is up this year, and gas prices are steady. All that means that there will be more traffic this Memorial Day Weekend than ever. AAA Travel projects that 36.1 million Americans will travel 50-plus miles from their house this weekend, which is 1.5% higher than last year. Since 88% of travelers will be getting to their final destination by car, traffic will be 2.6% higher than the 10-year historical average. Here’s an infographic outlining all of the unfortunate news. At least you have sunlight to look forward to once you get off the highway!  AAA ### See 15 Mouthwatering BBQ Photos  Smoked pork hot link with collard greens and mac and cheese at Jim 'N Nicks Bar-B-Q in Birmingham, Ala. Andrew Hetherington  Fried chicken at Husk in Charleston, S.C., named "Best New Restaurant in America" by Bon Appétit in 2011. Andrew Hetherington  Catfish with a selection of sides (including large lima beans, fresh green beans, collard greens, boiled cabbage, fresh mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts) from the daily cafeteria menu at Niki's West in Birmingham, Ala. Andrew Hetherington  Holeman & Finch Public House in Atlanta infamously serves only 24 burgers a night, at around 10 pm. Get there early; they almost always sell out. Andrew Hetherington  James Beard award-winning chef Sean Brock holding house-cured meat at McCrady's in Charleston, S.C. Andrew Hetherington  Whole pig ready to be butchered at Husk in Charleston, S.C. Andrew Hetherington  Smoked pork ribs with watermelon pickle at Cochon in New Orleans Andrew Hetherington  Menu display at Gus's Hot Dogs in Birmingham, Ala. Andrew Hetherington  Hot dog on the griddle at Gus's in Birmingham, Ala. Andrew Hetherington  The finished product at Gus's in Birmingham, Ala. Andrew Hetherington  All 24 burgers on the griddle at the same time at Holeman & Finch Public House in Atlanta. Andrew Hetherington  House-cured meat at Star Provisions in Atlanta. Andrew Hetherington  Bread for sandwiches and hamburgers at the soda fountain in Add Drug in Athens, Ga. The store is well known for the best-value lunch in town. Andrew Hetherington  Crawfish boil on the banks of the Mississippi in New Orleans with chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski of Cochon restaurant. The crawfish are cooked with lemons, garlic, and salt, then tossed with Old Bay and Cajun spices before being dumped on a plastic table for eating. Andrew Hetherington  Lemon meringue pie at Niki's West in Birmingham, Ala. 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