Memorial Day weekend to be busy in Cali. and Ariz.

It’s the holiday that marks the traditional start of the summer in Parker, and California and Arizona drivers will be on the roads. In Arizona, the Memorial Day weekend also will provide drivers with a break from construction-related closures along state highways.

The Arizona Department of Transportation reminds anyone who is planning a road trip over the holiday weekend to prepare ahead of time and to “expect the unexpected” when behind the wheel.

To ease holiday travel, ADOT will not schedule any construction closures along state highways over the extended weekend. Travelers are still asked to allow extra travel time, be prepared for existing work zones and obey reduced speed limits even when crews are not in a work area.

Travelers and commuters in California can expect the I-5, I-15, U.S. 101, SR 91 and other outbound freeways to be packed on Thursday and Friday with those headed to Memorial Day weekend getaways, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Las Vegas and Arizona are two of the top five destinations for SoCal travelers, according to the club.

Over last year’s Memorial Day weekend, eight people were killed in a total of seven fatal crashes on highways and local streets in Arizona. Five of the fatal crashes were alcohol-related, claiming the lives of six people.

Gas prices have also gone up; check FuelCostCalculator.AAA.com before leaving to budget your drive trip with real-time gas price estimates based on the make, model and year of your vehicle.