AAA forecasts 45 million travelers

AAA said 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday period from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, setting a new record for the weekend. The forecast is slightly above last year’s 44.8 million travelers, according to the motor club. Driving will account for the vast majority of trips, with 39.1 million people expected to go by car, while 3.66 million are projected to fly. AAA said higher gasoline prices have not stopped demand, even as pump costs are at their highest levels since the summer of 2022. ### How much bigger is this year’s holiday rush? AAA said this year’s projection is a modest increase from 2025, when 44.8 million people traveled for Memorial Day. The group’s forecast covers domestic trips of 50 miles or more and is framed as a record for the holiday weekend. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the group’s release that Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and that travelers are taking advantage of the three-day weekend. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said road travel and air travel are both expected to set holiday records. ### Why are roads still expected to be packed despite fuel prices? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 87% of Memorial Day travelers are expected to drive, keeping cars the dominant mode of transportation for the holiday. The group said gasoline prices are higher than they were over Memorial Day last year, when the national average for regular fuel was $3.17 a gallon. This year’s prices are the highest since summer 2022, AAA said. (inrix.com) ABC News, citing AAA, reported that travelers who booked flights early may have seen lower average ticket prices than a year ago, even as fuel and airfare remain elevated more broadly. AAA also said domestic car rentals for the holiday weekend are 1% cheaper than last year, based on its booking data. (inrix.com) ### When will traffic be at its worst? INRIX said the heaviest road congestion is expected on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. as travelers leave metro areas. Monday afternoon is also expected to be crowded as people return home, with INRIX identifying noon to 5 p.m. as the worst window for return traffic. Sunday is expected to be the lightest day on the roads, barring unexpected incidents, according to AAA’s release citing INRIX. (abcnews.com) AAA said drivers should try to leave in the morning hours when possible. The group also said Hertz expects Thursday and Friday to be the busiest pickup days for rental cars over the holiday weekend. ### What does AAA say travelers should watch besides traffic? AAA said it responded to more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls over last year’s Memorial Day weekend for dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group urged drivers to check battery condition, tire pressure and fluids before leaving, and reminded motorists to slow down, move over and drive sober. The top five rental-car markets are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston, according to AAA booking data cited in the release. Orlando was also identified by AAA-linked reports as the top domestic destination for the weekend. ### What happens next as the weekend begins? (newsroom.aaa.com) Thursday, May 21, is the first day of AAA’s Memorial Day travel window, and Monday, May 25, is the final return day covered by the forecast. INRIX’s traffic guidance points travelers to morning departures and warns that the return trip on Monday is most likely to slow between noon and 5 p.m. (inrix.com) (newsroom.aaa.com)