Even as the average price for regular gas stays above $4.50 per gallon, officials are predicting that just over 1 million vehicles will travel the Maine Turnpike during Memorial Day weekend.

Friday is expected to be the busiest day on the 109-mile toll highway between Kittery and Augusta, with the heaviest northbound traffic between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., according to a news release from the turnpike authority. On Saturday, officials said, the busiest window in both directions will likely be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Monday, southbound traffic is expected to be heaviest between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Drivers should be cautious and patient during the busy weekend on the roads, officials said.

The vehicle estimates are a slight increase — 0.5% — over 2025, when Maine saw more tourists than expected for what was a chilly and wet holiday weekend. The hot temperatures of earlier this week have cooled, but Maine Turnpike Authority spokesperson Rebecca Grover said the gray forecast isn’t so rainy as to dampen predictions.

A bigger factor could be costs at the pump, which are much higher than last year.

“Gas prices may have people wanting to stay home or closer to home,” Grover said.

Tourism officials have been reluctant to predict how gas prices will impact Maine’s summer season.

On Thursday, the state’s average price for a gallon of regular gas was $4.517, according to AAA. One year ago, the average in Maine was $3.051.

AAA also projects that trips will be slightly higher this weekend than in 2025 across the country, with Boston being one of the top five markets for demand for rental cars and 2 million people traveling in New England.

“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” Dan Goodman, manager of public affairs and traffic safety for AAA Northern New England, said in a news release. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.”