Memorial weekend travel plans: What should you know at Jacksonville's airport and on Florida's roads

Expect near-record holiday travel this Memorial Day weekend in the air and on the roads, according to experts.

For those flying out of Jacksonville International Airport, officials there warn travelers to arrive at least two hours prior to departure so they can find parking, check bags and navigate through security.

"Travelers may experience longer lines and wait times than usual throughout the summer travel season, but particularly this holiday weekend," Jacksonville Aviation Authority spokeswoman Lauren Steif said.

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And for those who travel by car, the Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the busiest in three years, the American Automobile Association said. AAA predicts almost 2.2 million Floridians will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend, an 8.3 percent increase over 2021.

That travel spike is building on a resurgence that began this spring with the second-highest single-year increase in travelers since 2010, AAA said.

That could bring traffic almost in line with pre-pandemic levels and just under the record 2021 volumes.

“By the looks of this Memorial Day travel forecast, the summer travel season is off to a sizzlin’ start,” said Debbie Haas, AAA Auto Club Group travel vice president. “People are more comfortable traveling now than any other time in the past two years, and travel bookings are a reflection of that. Reservations for flights, hotels and cruises for Memorial Day weekend are twice as strong as last year’s holiday and that momentum will likely carry into the summer.”

Jacksonville airport officials remind travelers that parking lots will fill up and close as the weekend progresses, so check the website at flyjacksonville.com/Home.aspx, Twitter (@JAXairport) and on Airport Road signage approaching the airport for updates on what's open.

The hourly garage is $2 per half hour up to $20 daily, while the daily garage is $2 every half hour up to $16 daily. The daily surface lot is also $2 per half hour up to $11 daily. The economy lots are $6 a day, while valet parking is now open: call (904) 741-3900.

Security no-nos at JIA

With passengers still bringing guns, knives and other items prohibited by the Transportation Security Administration in checked or carry-on luggage, airport officials warn travelers to look at the TSA website at tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all for information.

Prohibited items include guns, lighters of all kinds as well as knives or any item that looks like a weapon.

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Gas pains

Florida gas prices may be drifting lower, but the average prices are still higher than they were in previous years, AAA said.

On Sunday the average price for gasoline in Florida was $4.48 per gallon, a 3-cent decline after setting a new record high price of $4.51 per gallon last week, AAA said. But AAA Auto Club Group spokesman Mark Jenkins said even though pump prices are slightly lower, what people find at the pump on Memorial Day weekend may "be the holiday's most expensive yet."

"A combination of tightening global supplies and strengthening demand are the main culprits behind this unprecedented pain at the pump," Jenkins said. "Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be a quick end in sight. Gas prices are likely to continue fluctuating throughout the summer and remain well above year-ago levels."

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Before this year, the highest Memorial Day average gas price was set in 2008 at $3.93 per gallon. Last year Memorial Day travelers paid an average of $2.86 per gallon, with Florida's average at $2.60 in 2019 and $2.91 in 2018.

AAA expects 100,000 more Floridians to take a road trip this Memorial Day, 5.4 percent more than last year’s holiday weekend as 90 percent of holiday travelers are expected to drive rather than fly.

FYI — the most expensive metro Florida market was West Palm Beach/Boca Raton at  $4.64 per gallon as of Sunday. The least expensive was $4.35 in Pensacola, AAA said. Check nationwide and state gas price averages at gasprices.aaa.com.

dscanlan@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4549

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville airport should be busy Memorial Day weekend - roads too