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, setting a new record for the weekend. The forecast covers Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, according to the group’s annual holiday outlook. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to drive, 3.66 million to fly and 2.2 million to travel by other modes such as bus, train or cruise. The group said the total is slightly above the 44.8 million travelers it counted for Memorial Day 2025. ### How big is the travel forecast this year? AAA’s 45 million estimate would make 2026 the busiest Memorial Day weekend in the organization’s tracking for the holiday period, according to its May 11 release. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group said the increase over 2025 is modest, but still enough to push the total to a new high. Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA - The Auto Club Group, said Florida reflects the same pattern. In a regional forecast dated May 10, AAA said nearly 2.66 million Floridians are expected to travel at least 50 miles, up 0.7% from a year earlier and a state Memorial Day record. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### Why are roads expected to carry most of the holiday traffic? AAA said 39.1 million travelers will go by car, accounting for 87% of Memorial Day travelers nationwide. The group said driving remains the dominant option even with fuel costs above year-earlier levels. (newsroom.aaa.com) Florida’s forecast points the same way. AAA said more than 2.35 million Floridians are expected to drive during the holiday period, compared with 236,294 who will fly and 74,820 who will use other transportation. ### What is AAA saying about gas prices? (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) AAA said drivers are paying more than they did over Memorial Day last year, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17. The group said current pump prices are the highest they have been since the summer of 2022, though it did not give a single national holiday-weekend average in the travel forecast release. (newsroom.aaa.com) In Florida, AAA said the state average was $4.43 per gallon in its regional Memorial Day forecast, versus $3.06 per gallon on Memorial Day last year. Jenkins said higher fuel prices and persistent inflation may lead some people to shorten trips, delay plans or stay closer to home. (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) ### Are flights getting more expensive too? AAA said 3.66 million people are expected to take domestic flights over the holiday weekend, a small increase from last year. Air travelers represent about 8% of all Memorial Day travelers in the forecast. (newsroom.aaa.com) According to AAA booking data, round-trip domestic flights booked for the holiday were 6% cheaper than a year earlier, with an average ticket price of $800. AAA said many of those tickets were purchased before rising jet fuel prices began affecting airfare. ### Where else is demand showing up? (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) Hertz, identified by AAA as its car-rental partner, said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pick-up days for Memorial Day rentals. AAA said domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper than a year ago, based on its booking data. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA also said Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston are the top five markets with the highest rental-car demand for the holiday period. The group said it handled more than 350,000 emergency roadside assistance calls over Memorial Day weekend last year for problems including dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What should travelers expect next week? Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, is the five-day travel window used in AAA’s 2026 Memorial Day forecast. AAA said drivers should check batteries, tire pressure and fluid levels before leaving and reminded motorists to slow down, move over for roadside responders and drive sober. (newsroom.aaa.com) GasPrices.AAA.com will continue posting daily state and local fuel averages through the holiday period, and Hertz said Thursday and Friday will be the busiest rental pick-up days. (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) (newsroom.aaa.com)