AAA projects 45 million Memorial travelers

AAA said on May 11 that 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, setting what the group called a new Memorial Day weekend record. The forecast is slightly above last year’s level and points to another heavy holiday stretch on highways and at airports. The auto club said 39.1 million people are projected to drive and 3.66 million are expected to fly. INRIX, the traffic-data company cited by AAA, said the heaviest road congestion should come late in the day on Thursday and Friday and again Monday afternoon. ### How big is this year’s Memorial Day forecast? AAA put the total at 45 million travelers, up from 44.8 million a year earlier. The organization said that would edge past prior Memorial Day highs and mark another record for the holiday travel period. The May 21-25 forecast covers trips of at least 50 miles from home. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said Memorial Day demand has remained strong even with fuel prices running above year-ago levels. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the release that “travel demand remains strong” and that many people are still prioritizing leisure trips during holiday breaks. ### Why are highways still carrying most of the traffic? AAA said 39.1 million people will travel by car over the holiday weekend, representing 87% of all Memorial Day travelers. That would be a slight increase from last year, keeping driving as the dominant option for holiday trips. (newsroom.aaa.com) Gasoline prices are higher than they were over Memorial Day last year, according to AAA. The group said the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17 on Memorial Day 2025, while current pump prices are the highest since the summer of 2022. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA also said it handled more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls over last year’s Memorial Day weekend. The most common problems included dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks, the group said. ### What is happening with flights and other travel? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to take domestic flights, or about 8% of the holiday total. The group said that would be a small increase from last year. Round-trip domestic airfare is averaging $800 based on AAA booking data, down 6% from a year earlier for travelers who booked before recent jet-fuel increases affected fares, the group said. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said travel by bus, train or cruise is expected to rise 5% to 2.2 million people. ### When are the worst times to be on the road? INRIX said Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are expected to be the most congested periods for Memorial Day drivers. Monday afternoon is also expected to be busy as travelers return home. Sunday should be the lightest traffic day, barring crashes, construction or weather disruptions, according to INRIX. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said congestion typically shifts as trips move away from major metro areas toward beaches, lakes, mountains and other leisure destinations. ### Which rental-car markets are seeing the most demand? Hertz told AAA that Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest rental-car pickup days for the holiday weekend. The company said the top five markets by demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper than they were over Memorial Day last year. That compares with last year’s AAA forecast, when Hertz identified Friday, May 23, as the busiest pickup day and listed Orlando, Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami and Seattle among the highest-demand cities. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What should travelers watch as the weekend approaches? AAA said the Memorial Day travel period begins Thursday, May 21, and runs through Monday, May 25. The group urged drivers to check batteries, tire pressure and fluids before leaving, and repeated its “Slow Down, Move Over” and sober-driving safety messages ahead of the weekend. (newsroom.aaa.com) INRIX’s traffic guidance and AAA’s mode-by-mode forecast are already posted in AAA’s May 11 release, which names the road, air and rental-car trends travelers can expect before the holiday begins. (newsroom.aaa.com)