Drivers heading to the Jersey Shore on Friday afternoon saw slow-moving traffic for several miles coming off the Walt Whitman bridge, but many travelers said the start of the holiday weekend was smoother than they anticipated.
Friday, May 22, 2026 10:47PMDrivers heading to the shore on Friday afternoon saw slow-moving traffic for several miles coming off the Walt Whitman bridge, but many travelers said the start of the holiday weekend was smoother than they anticipated.
Aldara Madden, who was traveling with her friend Elana Maser, said the trip moved faster than she expected. Maser added that they left school early to avoid delays.
"My mom and I do that every year and then we always stop here as our little pre-down the shore," she said. "I'm coming from Bucks County, so I was worried there was gonna be some traffic but it really wasn't bad at all," said Erin McFadden of Churchville, who was headed to Ocean City.
AAA reported that while slightly more people are traveling by car this year compared to last, 2026 is projected to have the lowest year-over-year travel growth rate in more than a decade, excluding the steep drop seen in 2020 during the pandemic.
"Gas is ridiculously expensive and I think all the time before going anywhere these days," said Debbie Maser of Philadelphia. "But this is our happy place and nothing can keep us away. ""I was thinking that, I wonder if there'll be less congestion on the roads because of the weather," said Kyra Wolin of Massachusetts. "It's not looking to be too good this weekend with the rain.
""No not at all. You go down. You get it done," said George Miller of Lansdale. As the unofficial start of summer begins, travelers said they remain committed to kicking off the season in their favorite spots, not letting rain, traffic, or high prices keep them away.
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