AAA anticipates that approximately 43.8 million travelers will journey 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday period. This year's total number of travelers marks a 4% increase from last year and is close to matching the record set in 2005 with 44 million Memorial Day travelers.
Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel, commented, "We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years. We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”
Road trips are predicted to set a new record, with AAA estimating that 38.4 million people will travel by car over the Memorial Day weekend. This figure represents the highest number for that holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. The number of drivers this year is up by 4% compared to last year and is 1.9% higher than in 2019.
AAA's car rental partner Hertz has identified Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas as cities with the highest rental demand. The busiest pick-up days are projected to be Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24.
Gas prices during this Memorial Day weekend are expected to be similar to those of last year when the national average was roughly $3.57. Prices may rise slightly as the summer driving season commences.
Airports are preparing for an influx of travelers as well. AAA predicts that there will be about 3.51 million air travelers over the holiday weekend, representing an increase of 4.8% from last year and a jump of 9% compared to figures from two years ago.
Nearly two million people are expected to use other modes of transportation such as buses, cruises, and trains over the holiday weekend. AAA estimates that 1.9 million people will opt for these alternative modes of transportation, a rise of 5.6% compared to last year.
Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX, advises travelers to stay updated on traffic apps, 511 services, and local news stations to avoid unnecessary delays. He noted that travel times could be up to 90% longer than usual.
This Memorial Day weekend, popular destinations include theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas, and Southern California. European cities dominate the international list.
AAA Travel has identified several trends as travelers make plans for summer and beyond. These include bucket list trips, milestone celebrations such as anniversaries and family reunions, increased interest in visiting Asia (especially Japan), solo trips (particularly among women), luxury vacations including high-end cruises and tours, rail vacations across New England, Canada and Europe, and adventure trips to locations like Antarctica, Africa and the South Pacific.
A recent survey of AAA travel agents highlighted topics frequently discussed when booking trips. Among these were travel insurance with 51% of agents reporting more travelers interested in protecting their trips.