Memorial Day weekend 2026: Travelers pack Chicago roads, expressways, O'Hare and Midway airports; busy weekend of events in city
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — The tarmac at O’Hare Airport was a busy place Friday, one of the busiest travel days of the year.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

With the start of Memorial Day weekend, many travelers got ready to head out of town and were excited.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

According to the Chicago Department of Aviation, Thursday was anticipated to be the busiest day at O’Hare Airport, with Midway Airport expected to have the highest number of travelers on Monday.

This weekend is poised for record-breaking travel. AAA projects that over 45 million Americans will be traveling, surpassing the previous record set in 2005.

Tiffany Knauer is heading to visit her son in Florida, and she expected the airport to be more crowded.

“I expected worse,” Knauer said. “I am pleasantly surprised. The traffic outside was even better.”

O’Hare Airport was anticipated to handle over 1.5 million travelers through its terminals over the long weekend, marking nearly a 7% increase compared to last year at this time.

American Airlines is expecting a big increase in the number of flights and travelers going through Chicago over this time last year.

“Planning for this weekend started months ago, back in October, as we figured out when we wanted to fly, where we wanted to fly and how we wanted to use our gate space,” said Ben Humphrey with American Airlines.

United Airlines said they’ll fly 67,000 seats on average a day out of O’Hare, with Friday being their busiest day.

This will also be the first holiday travel period with the new Real ID requirement at airports. Travelers were encouraged to arrive early to airports as TSA deals with the new requirements.

With the Kennedy Expressway under construction, officials are urging people to take public transit to O’Hare.

On the roads, AAA says about 87% of travelers, or 39 million people, will be driving between Thursday and Monday, up 1 million over last year. They will enjoy lower gas prices than a year ago at this time, as well as slightly cheaper hotels and rental cars.

That’s good news for holiday travelers like Jen Richards, whose family has a full agenda planned for the weekend.

“We went to the Botanic gardens with the toddler, and now we are going to dinner and my mother has a sweatshirt with all the grandchildren’s pictures on it,” Richards said.

IDOT and Illinois State Police are ramping up efforts to pull over passengers not wearing their seat belt, part of their “click it or ticket campaign.”

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Law enforcement officer at a Walmart crime scene.

At least 11 people hurt during terrifying knife attack at Michigan Walmart with suspect allegedly targeting victims indiscriminately

AT least 11 people have been injured in a horror knife attack…
More than 100 aid groups warn of starvation in Gaza as Israeli strikes kill 29, officials say

Israel’s Military Announces Aid Airdrops in Gaza Amid Hunger Crisis; At Least 53 Killed in Israeli Airstrikes and Gunfire

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — On Saturday night, Israel’s military declared plans…
DHS: Two Wisconsin teens would 'still be alive' if not for sanctuary policies protecting illegal immigrant

DHS: Sanctuary Policies Blamed for the Deaths of Two Wisconsin Teens, Could Have Been Prevented

An unauthorized immigrant from Honduras is facing deportation after allegedly driving under…
Kidnapping survivor, once dismissed as a liar, now retrains police to help victims

Formerly dismissed as a liar, kidnapping survivor now trains police to assist victims

Denise Huskins, who was accused of lying after surviving a home invasion…
RedState Weekly Briefing: Gutfeld's Had Enough - and So Have We All

RedState Weekly Update: Gutfeld Has Reached His Limit – and So Have We

Welcome to the RedState Weekly Briefing — a quick roundup of the…
Public hanging in Zahedan, Iran.

Concerns Grow that Iran May Execute 30,000 in a Repeat of the 1988 Massacre amid Intensified Crackdown

IRAN’S merciless regime is plotting to kill tens of thousands of prisoners…
‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ scores Marvel's first $100 million box office opening of 2025

‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Achieves Marvel’s Initial $100 Million Box Office Debut in 2025

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Marvel’s iconic group of superheroes has finally struck…

Three Individuals Found Unconscious Following Plane Crash in Ocean Near California Coast

MONTEREY, Calif. (AP) — Authorities reported that three individuals were discovered unresponsive…
UK Rolls Out Trans "Ally" Bathroom Invitation Badges to ID Minors Open to Contact

The UK Introduces Bathroom Badges to Support Transgender Inclusivity for Minors

A taxpayer-funded BBC employee in the UK is leading a campaign to…
Brutal downtown brawl leaves victims bloodied as Cincinnati police launch investigation

Violent Fight in Downtown Cincinnati Results in Injuries; Police Begin Investigation

Police in Cincinnati are investigating a viral video that shows what appears…
Kansas deputy fatally shot by suspect barricaded in house: sheriff

Sheriff reports Kansas deputy killed by suspect holed up in home.

A Kansas sheriff’s deputy was killed in the line of duty on…
Crowded beach in Palaio Faliro, Athens, with palm trees and beach umbrellas.

Young Girl Discovered Deceased on Greek Beach: Police Investigate Her Identity

Tragically, the body of a young girl was discovered on a Greek…