AAA names Orlando the busiest Memorial Day destination

AAA said Orlando is the busiest U.S. destination for Memorial Day travel this year, as the travel group projects a record 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25. The forecast, released May 11, puts Orlando at the top of AAA’s domestic destination rankings based on booking data, ahead of other holiday hotspots tied to theme parks, entertainment and cruise departures. AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car and 3.66 million by air over the five-day holiday period. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said demand for leisure trips remained strong despite higher fuel prices. ### Why is Orlando at the top of AAA’s list? Orlando ranked first in AAA’s domestic Memorial Day destination list because of demand tied to its theme parks and nearby cruise traffic, according to AAA booking data cited in holiday travel coverage. Parade, summarizing AAA data on May 14, said Orlando took the No. 1 spot nationally for the 2026 holiday weekend. Florida Today also reported heavy Memorial Day demand for trips linked to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and the broader Central Florida tourism market. (newsroom.aaa.com) Central Florida is expected to see its heaviest crowds over Memorial Day weekend itself, with travel and visitor pressure concentrated around May 24-26, according to coverage of AAA’s destination forecast. Orlando also appears in Hertz rental-car demand data carried in AAA’s national release, where it ranked as the top market for holiday rental demand. (parade.com) ### How big is Memorial Day travel overall this year? AAA’s May 11 forecast said 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday window, slightly above 2025’s 44.8 million and a new Memorial Day weekend record. The group said driving will account for 87% of holiday travelers, with 39.1 million expected on the roads. Another 2.2 million are expected to travel by bus, train or cruise. (parade.com) Air travel is also expected to rise, though by a smaller amount. AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to fly domestically, and its booking data showed average round-trip domestic airfare at $800, down 6% from a year earlier for trips booked before recent increases in jet-fuel costs filtered through. ### Is AAA saying growth is slowing even with a record forecast? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA’s national forecast still shows a record number of travelers, but other AAA regional reporting said this year’s increase is weaker than the typical annual gains seen over the past decade. MSN, citing AAA, reported on May 15 that Memorial Day travel growth in 2026 is running well below the 2% to 4% annual increase that has often characterized recent years. Because the underlying regional AAA release was not directly accessible, that characterization should be read as reported by MSN. (newsroom.aaa.com) Higher gasoline prices are part of the backdrop. AAA said pump prices heading into the holiday are the highest they have been since the summer of 2022, even as travelers continue to prioritize holiday trips. Barber said in AAA’s national release that “travel demand remains strong” despite those fuel costs. ### When will the roads be most crowded? (msn.com) INRIX, the traffic-data company cited by AAA, said the heaviest Memorial Day congestion is expected on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., with another busy period on Monday afternoon. AAA said Sunday should be the lightest day for traffic, barring road incidents or other disruptions. (newsroom.aaa.com) Florida travel coverage tied to AAA’s forecast said Orlando-bound drivers should expect the worst Interstate 4 traffic around the holiday rush and plan departures outside the busiest windows. Parade, citing AAA guidance, said travelers heading to Central Florida should consider leaving before 11 a.m. Friday or after 9 p.m. Thursday to avoid the thickest traffic. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What should travelers watch next? Thursday, May 21, marks the start of AAA’s Memorial Day travel period, and Monday, May 25, is the final day covered by the forecast. AAA said Hertz expects Thursday and Friday to be the busiest rental-car pickup days, with Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston showing the highest demand. (parade.com) AAA’s booking-based destination rankings and INRIX traffic forecasts will be tested over the May 21-25 holiday window, when Orlando’s theme parks, hotels and roads are expected to absorb the biggest Memorial Day crowds in the country. (newsroom.aaa.com)