Memorial Day travel dips in Virginia amid higher gas prices

By the numbers: 1.21 million Virginians will head out of town for the long weekend, AAA predicts.

• That's about 3,000 fewer than last year.
• And it marks the first since 2020 that AAA has predicted a drop in Memorial Day traveler in the state, spokesperson Morgan Dean tells Axios.

The intrigue: Virginia may be something of an outlier this year.

• While AAA also predicts fewer Maryland and D.C. residents will travel this weekend, Dean says, AAA expects slightly more North Carolinians to head out of town.
• And overall, holiday travel this weekend is expected to set a record with 45 million Americans traveling, slightly more than last year, per AAA.

Driving the news: Soaring gas and plane ticket prices due to the Iran war are to blame for the lackluster travel plans, per AAA.

• Yes, but: Most holiday weekend fliers booked trips before prices jumped, says AAA.

• And the Richmond airport expects to see about the same number of fliers this year as it did last year, around 77,000, airport spokesperson Troy Bell tells Axios.

Be smart: If you do plan to travel and are driving, Thursday after 9pm or Friday and Saturday before 11am are your best bets for the least congestion, per AAA.

• Plan to head home Sunday or before 10am Monday if you want a smooth ride home.