Lots of families will be travelling on Memorial Day Weekend. What makes this 3-day weekend special, though, is that it marks the unofficial start of summer and outdoor fun in the sun! To get that sun and fun, you’ll need to survive the drive (or the flight) to get there. When you consider that there will be millions of other families doing the same thing, some travel tips might be helpful. That way, you’ll have a wonderful time with a lot less traffic, delays, and frustration.

To help make your Memorial Day more enjoyable and less aggravating, NSA Storage has the best travel tips and hacks below! Use them to navigate safely to the destination of your choice and enjoy some much-needed summertime fun.

7 Travel Tips for Driving on Memorial Day Weekend

1. Leave Early or (or Late) to Avoid Heavy Traffic

One of the biggest problems when driving on Memorial Day weekend is heavy traffic. That typically occurs on Friday afternoon and Monday evening, when it seems like the whole world is trying to get out of town. In other words, if you want to avoid heavy traffic, leave earlier or later on Friday and Monday. It could save you hours spent sitting in traffic.

2. Have Your Car Serviced Before Leaving

There’s nothing worse than breaking down on the side of the road on your way to a weekend of fun. To prevent that disaster, be sure to have your car serviced before leaving. That’s especially true if you’re going to be traveling over 50 miles.

3. Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Car

Just in case, pack some jumper cables, a flashlight, bottled water, and snacks into a small box or container. A first aid kit along with it is also a great idea, just in case. Toss it all in the trunk and feel better knowing you’re well prepared.

4. Plan Your Route

Today it’s much easier than it used to be to find your way to a destination, even for the first time. (Thank you, GPS!) Even so, planning your route ahead of time is a good idea. This could give you a better route to avoid traffic and road closures, which could save you oodles of time.

5. Share the Driving Duties

If you’re driving with other adults who have drivers licenses, be sure to share the driving duties. Fact is, it’s unfair and unsafe to expect one person to do all of the driving. If that’s you, speak up and let others know that you’d like some help behind the wheel.

6. Take a Break Every 2 Hours

Long drives can be grueling but they become even worse when you don’t take a break every now and then. We recommend taking one every two hours to get a snack, stretch, and stay alert. Remember: tired driving is dangerous driving.

7. Use Cruise Control when Possible

If you have cruise control count yourself lucky because it’s very helpful on long drives! It helps save gas, for example, and keep your leg muscles from cramping, among other things. Be sure to stay alert when using it, though.

7 Travel Tips for Flying on Memorial Day Weekend

1. Only Use a Carry-On Bag

Having to check luggage when flying on a busy weekend like Memorial Day weekend is never a good idea. It holds you up at best, and you could lose all your stuff at worst. Better to only use a carry-on bag, especially if you’re only going away for three days.

2. Charge Your Devices Ahead of Time

Just like at home, you’ll need your phone and possibly your laptop while traveling. To make sure they don’t die while you’re in transit, be sure to charge them fully before you leave. Also, if you have one, bring a portable charger.

3. Get CLEAR or TSA PreCheck

Security lines on Memorial Day weekend can be ridiculous at the airport. To avoid them and save a lot of time, sign up for TSA PreCheck or CLEAR before you go. You’ll get through security much faster.

4. Bring Snacks

Unless you’ve never traveled before, you know that airport food prices are through the roof. To save money, and eat better food, bring your own snacks. You’ll not only save cash but a lot of time in lines. Plus, you’ll eat the snacks you like rather than having to settle for what’s at the airport.

5. Use a Mobile Boarding Pass

One of the best ways to avoid standing in line at the airport is to use a mobile boarding pass. You can download it before going to the airport and, in most cases, skip the check-in lines completely!

6. Book Very Early Flights

The earlier the flight, the less likely it will be delayed. You’ll also have much shorter lines at security and, if something goes wrong, have time to fix it.

7. Look Up a Map of the Airport

If you’re using an airport you haven’t been to before, look up a map of it online. That way you’ll know where the main terminals are and where you need to be when you get there.

Things to Pack for the Best Memorial Day Weekend

Below are a few items that almost everyone will need to enjoy Memorial Day weekend. Be sure to get them ready ahead of time so that you don’t forget anything when it’s time to leave.

• Comfortable walking or hiking shoes
• Reusable water bottle
• Travel pillow
• Phone chargers
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Swimwear
• First aid kit
• Snacks and drinks
• Weather appropriate clothing

If you’re traveling with kids or pets, the next few items should definitely be on your list:

• Small toys, a tablet, and coloring books
• Extra snacks (for the kids and/or the pets)
• Wet wipes
• Your pet’s favorite bed
• Pet medications
• A leash or collar
• Pet food

Keep Your Summer Organized with NSA Storage

Like Christmas and Thanksgiving, Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest travel times of the year. Whether you’re flying, driving or staying home, we hope the travel tips above help you enjoy the holiday!

If you have summertime items like clothing and sports gear in storage, now is the time to take them out! At NSA Storage, we help people store their summer and winter items when they aren’t needed. If you need to rent a storage unit, you can reserve one online and it will be ready when you arrive. Until then, we hope that your Memorial Day weekend is magical and memorable!