APPROXIMATELY 45.1 AMERICANS will travel 50 miles or more this Memorial Day weekend, surpassing last year by more than 1.4 million and setting a new record, according to AAA. The previous high was 44 million in 2005.
Driving remains the main mode of transportation, with 87 percent of travelers taking road trips, AAA said in its report.
“Memorial Day weekend getaways don’t have to be extravagant and costly,” said Stacey Barber, AAA Travel’s vice president. “While some travelers embark on dream vacations and fly hundreds of miles across the country, many families just pack up the car and drive to the beach or visit friends. Long holiday weekends are ideal for travel because many people have an extra day off work and students are off from school.”
Despite rising prices, many Americans are using the long weekend to visit family and friends, often taking shorter trips, AAA said. The association projects 39.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, one million more than last year.
This year, gas prices are lower than last Memorial Day, when the national average for a gallon of regular was $3.59. Lower crude oil prices have kept gasoline from seasonal spikes. As the summer driving season begins, demand is expected to rise, and pump prices may increase. Prices usually peak in summer and decline when schools resume in the fall.
For drivers renting cars over Memorial Day weekend, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Friday, May 23 will be the busiest pickup day. SUVs are among the most rented vehicles. Hertz reports the highest rental demand in Orlando, Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami and Seattle—all on AAA’s Top Destinations list.
Meanwhile, the association said hotels in prime tourist areas cost more, so travelers should choose those near public transit to save on transportation.
AAA projects 3.61 million air passengers, a nearly 2 percent increase over last year’s 3.55 million. While this won’t break the 2005 record of 3.64 million, it will exceed pre-pandemic levels by 12 percent. AAA booking data shows domestic flights are 2 percent more expensive than last year, with the average roundtrip ticket at $850. Most flights are to destinations like Chicago, New York, Orlando, Denver and Seattle.
Travel by other modes is rising steadily post-pandemic, AAA said.
AAA projects 2.08 million people will travel by train, bus or cruise over Memorial Day weekend, an 8.5 percent increase over last year. This exceeds pre-pandemic levels from 2018 and 2019 but remains below early 2000s records when more people chose trains and buses after 9/11. AAA forecasts a record 19 million Americans will take cruises in 2025.
In December, AAA projected about 119.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the year-end holidays, with nearly 90 percent driving, making it the most popular mode of travel.
