HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Airports nationwide are expected to see almost 3.4 million people this Memorial Day weekend, and millions more drivers are expected to hit the roads.
AAA said more than 2.1 million Floridians are taking a road trip this holiday weekend.
Crabby Bill's on Indian Rocks Beach was packed on Friday night with locals and tourists. General Manager Tony Bartolo is expecting a busy holiday weekend.
"We have a really good local clientele. We have a built-in core base as the day goes on and the night and people see the business and all of that and hear the music, it just attracts a nice crowd," said Bartolo.
The restaurant is offering drink and food specials during the weekend. Angie Morthland, a local customer, urges people to remember the meaning behind Memorial Day, a day to honor our fallen service members.
"Remember what Memorial Day is all about, the people who served, and be safe. Remember that family is most important," she said.
Tampa International Airport officials also expect a busy weekend with 75,000 passengers daily and are projecting a record-breaking summer.
"Yesterday was the last day of school, so we're excited!" Doerte Blake, a traveler, said.
Schools out and traveling is in as people from across the country and here in the Tampa Bay area are flocking to TPA.
"It's me and my husband and our three kids. We are heading to California!" Jennifer Mason, another traveler, added.
Adam Bouchard, VP of Operations, said flights this weekend are around 90% full, and TPA is consistently breaking records since spring break.
"Through spring break, which was March through April, seven out of our 10 busiest days ever took place just this past spring break. So, we're looking for much of the same as we move through the summer months," Bouchard explained.
Bouchard told ABC Action News that TPA is on track to exceed 23 million passengers this summer, with around 90,000 people each day.
"After this trip to California, we're home for about a week and a half; then we go to Europe for a week and a half. So, we have that going on, and in July, we have a camp that we're flying to as well," Mason said.
Bouchard said billions of dollars have gone into expanding the facility, and 16 additional gates will be added in the next few years to meet the projected demand.
"We had to book our parking tickets way in advance, and it already said booked out for certain areas when we booked like a month ago," Blake said.
Airport officials recommend reserving parking and getting to the airport earlier than usual.
AAA has offered its Tow to Go program for the past 25 years on major holidays. When called upon, The Auto Club Group dispatches a tow truck to transport the driver and vehicle to a safe location within a 10-mile radius for free. Since its inception, Tow to Go has removed more than 25,000 impaired drivers from the road.
Tow to Go is active from 6 p.m. Friday, May 26 to 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30. Free confidential rides are available to AAA members and non-members.
If you need a ride, call: (855) 2-TOW-2-GO or (855) 286-9246.
