SOUTH BEND — The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Gov. Mike Braun are urging Hoosiers to plan their Memorial Day Weekend travels ahead of time, anticipating roads will stay “busy” starting Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25.
A May 20 joint press release warns travelers to allow extra travel time and prioritize safety.
“This coming weekend, state highways and interstates will be very busy with regular holiday travel and extra traffic heading to and from Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Indianapolis 500,” Braun said in the release. “I encourage everyone to allow plenty of time, plan their routes in advance and drive safely to their destinations.”
The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts at least 45 million people will travel in the U.S. this year for Memorial Day weekend, with more than 960,000 of those from Indiana, according to a AAA May 14 press release.
In total, AAA anticipates record travel nationwide, but higher costs will slow year-over-year growth. This year, AAA projects 39.1 million people will travel by car, a slight jump over last year, according to the press release.
What to expect at the pump
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said he suspects South Bend’s gas prices, now averaging $4.01 per gallon, “will inch a little lower” in South Bend over the course of the weekend.
Gas prices “could fall another five to 10 cents a gallon by Memorial Day. All of that really has to do with the waiver, the suspension of the state gasoline taxes,” De Haan said. “If you look at the states with the biggest price movements over the last week, Indiana is the state seeing the largest decline in average gas prices.”
Braun, who suspended the state gas tax in late April in response to rising gas prices caused by the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, extended the suspension May 6 for another 30 days.
De Haan also cited the price of oil as a contributing factor for Hoosiers’ declining gas prices. “President Trump alluded to the U.S. and Iran potentially being close to some sort of deal,” he said. “If that deal does not pan out, though, early next week, we could see prices going right back up rather quickly.”
De Haan, a self-proclaimed “myth-buster,” debunked the myth of gas prices spiking during holiday seasons like Memorial Day weekend.
“While Americans may be more price sensitive around the holidays, watching [gas] prices [and] waiting for them to go up, it’s often just coincidental. Gas prices don’t simply go up just because if it’s a holiday or not. Oftentimes there are extenuating circumstances that are impacting prices at the same time,” he said, adding, “Gas prices in South Bend are down significantly in the last week [or] week and a half.”
When to travel
The AAA published a chart in its May 14 press release of the best and worst times to travel by car during Memorial Day weekend:
● Thursday, May 21: noon to 9 p.m. (best); after 9 p.m. (worst)
● Friday, May 22: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (best); before 11 a.m. (worst)
● Saturday, May 23: noon to 5 p.m. (best); before 11 a.m. (worst)
● Sunday, May 24: Minimal traffic impact expected (best); before 11 a.m. (worst)
● Monday, May 25: noon to 5 p.m. (best); before 10 a.m.
Safety concerns
In the press release, INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist reminded drivers to prioritize safety while traveling:
● Wear seat belts: Although just under 7% of Indiana drivers don’t wear seatbelts, they account for 45% of passenger car fatalities, according to the release.
● Don’t text and drive: Texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by 50%.
The press release added that “buckling up and putting the phone down are two simple actions drivers and their passengers can take 100% of the time, not just during holiday travel, to prevent crashes — or survive if one occurs.”
Be aware of construction workers: There are more than 1,000 construction and maintenance projects planned in 2026, INDOT said, so drivers are likely to encounter construction workers and slowed or re-routed traffic patterns.
“The majority of injuries and fatalities in work zones involve drivers and their passengers, not road workers,” according to the release. “For everyone’s safety, it’s crucial that motorists remember to slow down, avoid distractions and follow all posted signs in work zones.”
Drive sober: According to the National Safety Council, INDOT said, 38% of fatal traffic crashes involved an alcohol-impaired driver during the 2024 Memorial Day holiday period, compared to the average of 30% for the 2024 calendar year.
INDOT said “it is never safe” drive while under the influence, whether from alcohol or other substances. “Make a plan to use a rideshare service, designate a sober driver or use public transit so everyone makes it home safely,” the release said.
Contact Katherine Hill via email at KTHill@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: What to watch out for during Memorial Day weekend travel
Reporting by Katherine Hill, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
