AAA forecasts 45 million Memorial Day travellers

AAA said on May 11 that 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday period, a figure the group said would set a new record for the weekend. The forecast covers trips between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, and includes travel by car, air, rail, bus and cruise. KTLA reported on May 22 that Los Angeles International Airport was already seeing packed terminals as travelers tried to get ahead of the rush. TSA said on May 20 that it expects to screen 18.3 million passengers and crew nationwide between May 21 and May 27, underscoring the heavy air-travel volume around the holiday. ### How big is this year’s Memorial Day travel wave? AAA’s 45 million estimate is slightly above the 44.8 million people it said traveled over Memorial Day in 2025. The group said that makes 2026 a new Memorial Day weekend record. AAA defines the holiday period as trips of at least 50 miles from home between May 21 and May 25. (newsroom.aaa.com) Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the organization’s release that “travel demand remains strong” even with higher fuel prices. AAA said Memorial Day remains the unofficial start of summer travel for many Americans taking a three-day weekend. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### How many of those travelers are driving instead of flying? AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car, accounting for 87% of Memorial Day travelers. The group said road travel remains the dominant mode even as gas prices are higher than they were over last year’s holiday weekend. (newsroom.aaa.com) INRIX, which provided traffic analysis cited in AAA’s release, said the heaviest road congestion is expected on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and again Monday afternoon. USA Today and other outlets published the same INRIX guidance for drivers trying to avoid the worst traffic windows. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said it handled more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls over Memorial Day weekend last year for dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. The group urged drivers to check batteries, tire pressure and fluids before leaving. ### What does the forecast say about airports? (inrix.com) AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the holiday weekend, up slightly from last year. The group said air travelers will make up 8% of the total holiday volume. (newsroom.aaa.com) TSA said it is staffed for the rush and expects to screen 18.3 million passengers and crew nationwide from May 21 through May 27. The agency said the projection covers the broader kickoff to the summer travel season, not just Memorial Day weekend itself. (newsroom.aaa.com) KTLA reported on May 22 that travelers were already moving through crowded terminals at LAX on Friday morning. The station said some passengers told its reporters they left for the airport around 3:30 a.m. and planned Tuesday returns to avoid heavier congestion on Memorial Day itself. (tsa.gov) ### Are fares and rentals moving the same way as gas prices? AAA said average round-trip domestic airfare for Memorial Day bookings was 6% lower than a year earlier, at about $800, based on what travelers paid when they booked. The group said many of those tickets were purchased before rising jet-fuel prices started feeding into airfare. (ktla.com) Hertz, which AAA identified as a rental-car partner, expects Thursday and Friday to be the busiest vehicle pickup days. AAA said domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper than they were over the same holiday weekend last year, and listed Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston as the top five rental markets. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What should travelers watch next? Friday, May 22, and Monday, May 25, are expected to be among the busiest travel days of the holiday weekend, KTLA reported. TSA’s nationwide screening forecast runs through Wednesday, May 27, while AAA’s Memorial Day travel window ends on Monday, May 25. (ktla.com) (newsroom.aaa.com)