AAA names Orlando top Memorial Day destination

AAA said Orlando is the top U.S. destination for Memorial Day weekend travel in 2026, as the auto club forecast 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 booking list as travelers head to Central Florida’s theme parks and nearby Port Canaveral. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to drive and 3.66 million are expected to fly over the five-day holiday period. (floridatoday.com) Florida Today reported on May 13 that Orlando again led AAA’s top-10 domestic list for the holiday weekend. Other outlets carrying the AAA data said Seattle, New York, Las Vegas and Miami rounded out the top five U.S. destinations, while Rome led the international list. (newsroom.aaa.com) Stacey Barber, AAA Travel’s vice president, said in the group’s release that “travel demand remains strong” even with higher fuel prices. AAA said this year’s projection is slightly above the 44.8 million travelers it estimated for Memorial Day 2025. ### Why did Orlando rank first again? (newsroom.aaa.com) Orlando topped AAA’s domestic list based on booking data for trips taken over the Memorial Day travel window, according to reports citing the forecast. Florida Today said the city’s theme parks and access to cruise departures helped keep it in first place. (floridatoday.com) AAA’s broader travel releases have repeatedly pointed to the same mix of attractions in Central Florida. In prior holiday forecasts, the group cited theme parks and Port Canaveral as major draws for Orlando-area travel, and this year’s Memorial Day rankings again put the city ahead of other large leisure markets. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### How many people are expected to drive, fly or cruise? AAA said 39.1 million travelers — about 87% of the total — are expected to go by car over the Memorial Day period. Another 3.66 million are projected to fly, while 2.2 million are expected to travel by bus, train or cruise. The group said the 45 million total would set a new Memorial Day weekend record. (floridatoday.com) AAA also said travel by other modes is expected to rise 5%, with Alaska cruise season helping lift demand in that category. ### What is happening with gas prices and airfares? AAA said gas prices are higher 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 pump prices are now the highest they have been since the summer of 2022. AAA also said round-trip domestic flights booked for the holiday were 6% cheaper than a year earlier, averaging $800, based on what travelers paid when they booked. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group added that many of those reservations were made before rising jet fuel prices began affecting airfare. ### When will roads be most crowded? (newsroom.aaa.com) INRIX, the traffic-data company cited by AAA, said the heaviest congestion is expected on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and again Monday afternoon. Reports based on the forecast advised travelers to leave early in the morning or later at night to avoid the worst backups. AAA said last Memorial Day weekend it handled more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls for issues including dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. (newsroom.aaa.com) Hertz, AAA’s car-rental partner, said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pickup days, with Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston the top rental markets. ### What happens next for holiday travelers? Memorial Day weekend travel begins Thursday, May 21, under AAA’s forecast window, and the holiday falls on Monday, May 25. Travelers looking for the latest route timing can find metro-by-metro congestion guidance in the INRIX data carried in AAA’s Memorial Day forecast materials. (newsroom.aaa.com) (midstates.aaa.com)