AAA expects 45m Memorial Day travelers

AAA said on May 11 that 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over Memorial Day weekend, setting a record for the holiday period. The forecast covers Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, and is slightly above last year’s level, according to the travel group. The largest share of those trips will be by car, even as fuel prices run above year-ago levels. Air travel is also expected to rise, with lower average ticket prices helping support bookings made earlier in the season. ### How many people are expected to travel, and how does that compare with last year? AAA projected 45 million travelers for the 2026 Memorial Day period, up from 44.8 million a year earlier. The group said that total would set a new Memorial Day weekend record. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the release that “travel demand remains strong” and that many Americans are still prioritizing leisure trips during holiday breaks despite higher fuel costs. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA defines the holiday forecast as trips of at least 50 miles from home. ### How much of the holiday traffic will be on the roads? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car, accounting for 87% of Memorial Day travelers. That would make driving by far the dominant mode for the long weekend. Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA said it responded to more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls for problems including dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group urged drivers to check batteries, tire pressure and fluids before leaving and to drive sober and move over for roadside workers and emergency vehicles. ### What are drivers paying at the pump this year? AAA said on May 14 that drivers are heading into the holiday with the highest Memorial Day gas prices in four years. The group said the national average had dipped for several days and then started rising again, with crude oil around $100 a barrel keeping pump prices elevated. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA also said current pump prices are the highest they have been since the summer of 2022. In its travel forecast, the group said drivers are paying more than they did last Memorial Day, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17. ### What does the forecast say about flights and other trips? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA projected 3.66 million domestic air travelers for the holiday weekend, or about 8% of all Memorial Day travelers. The group said that was a small increase from last year. AAA said average roundtrip domestic airfare was 6% lower than a year earlier, at $800, based on what travelers paid when they booked their trips. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group said many of those bookings were made before higher jet fuel prices began affecting fares. AAA said 2.2 million people are expected to travel by bus, train or cruise, up 5% from last year. (newsroom.aaa.com) For travelers renting cars, Hertz expects Thursday and Friday to be the busiest pickup days, with Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston showing the highest demand, according to AAA. ### Where are the pressure points for travelers making plans now? (newsroom.aaa.com) Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, are expected to be the busiest car-rental pickup days, according to Hertz data cited by AAA. That points to heavier activity at major leisure markets before the three-day weekend begins. AAA’s latest fuel update said the national average for public EV charging held at 41 cents per kilowatt hour in the week of May 14. (newsroom.aaa.com) Travelers looking for current gasoline and charging prices can follow AAA’s fuel updates as the holiday approaches. Monday, May 25, is the end date of AAA’s Memorial Day travel window, and the group’s fuel reports and holiday travel guidance are being updated through its newsroom and fuel-price pages. (newsroom.aaa.com 1) (newsroom.aaa.com 2)