AAA projects 45 million Memorial Day travelers

AAA said on May 11 that 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday period from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. The motor club said that would edge above last year’s 44.8 million and set a new Memorial Day weekend record. The forecast covers trips by car, air and other modes. AAA said the increase comes even as drivers face higher gasoline prices than a year ago and airfares booked early have fallen. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the group’s release that Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and that “travel demand remains strong.” AAA’s forecast defines the holiday window as five days, from May 21 to May 25. The organization said its projection is based on economic forecasting and consumer research. ### How many people are expected to drive? AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car over the holiday weekend. That would account for 87% of all Memorial Day travelers in the forecast and would be slightly above last year’s road-trip estimate. AAA said the driving total sets a new Memorial Day weekend record. The group said road travel remains the dominant choice for holiday trips. Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA responded to more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls involving dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks, according to the release. ### What did AAA say about flights? AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the holiday period. That would represent 8% of all Memorial Day travelers and a small increase from last year’s 3.61 million air travelers. The 2025 forecast said that year’s air total would remain below the 2005 Memorial Day record of 3.64 million, meaning the 2026 projection would move above that mark. AAA said its booking data showed round-trip domestic flights were 6% cheaper than a year earlier, with an average ticket price of $800. The group said most of those trips were booked before rising jet fuel prices began affecting airfare. ### What about trains, buses and cruises? AAA said 2.2 million people are expected to travel by other modes, including buses, trains and cruises. (newsroom.aaa.com) That category would be up 5% from last year, according to the release. The group did not break out each mode separately in the summary posted on its newsroom site. The 2025 forecast had put the comparable figure at about 2 million travelers. AAA has used that category to capture travelers who are not driving or flying during the holiday period. ### Are gas prices helping or hurting the outlook? AAA said drivers are paying more at the pump than they were over Memorial Day weekend last year, when the national average for regular gasoline was $3.17 a gallon. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group said current pump prices are the highest they have been since the summer of 2022. Jim Garrity, director of public affairs for AAA East Central, said in a regional AAA release that most Americans will still drive over the three-day weekend even with higher gas prices. AAA paired that message with safety advice, telling motorists to slow down, move over for roadside responders and drive sober. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### Where is rental-car demand expected to be strongest? Hertz, identified by AAA as its car-rental partner, said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pickup days for Memorial Day rentals. AAA said the five markets with the highest rental demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston. The group also said domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper than they were over the same holiday period last year. (theintelligencer.net) May 21 is the first day in AAA’s Memorial Day travel window, and May 25 is the last. Travelers looking for the full forecast can find it in AAA’s May 11 release, which includes mode-by-mode estimates, airfare data and rental-car demand by market. (newsroom.aaa.com)