AAA projects 45 million Memorial Day travelers

AAA said 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday period, a record for the weekend and slightly above last year’s 44.8 million. The travel window in AAA’s forecast runs from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. The group said 39.1 million people are expected to drive and 3.66 million are expected to fly, as holiday demand holds up despite higher fuel costs. ### How big is this year’s Memorial Day travel surge? AAA said the 45 million figure would set a new Memorial Day weekend record. The forecast covers domestic travelers going at least 50 miles from home, and the increase from 2025 is modest in raw numbers but enough to top the previous high. (newsroom.aaa.com) Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the organization’s release that Memorial Day is the “unofficial start of summer” and that many Americans are taking advantage of the three-day weekend. AAA said the forecast is being supported by strong demand for road trips and air travel even with prices still elevated in parts of the travel market. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### Why are roads still carrying most of the holiday traffic? AAA said 39.1 million travelers are expected to go by car, making driving by far the dominant mode of transportation for the holiday. That would also be a Memorial Day weekend record for road travel, according to the group’s regional releases. ABC News, citing AAA and INRIX, reported that the heaviest road congestion is expected around the start and end of the long weekend. (southjersey.aaa.com) For Friday, May 22, INRIX recommended leaving before 11 a.m. and said the worst traffic is likely from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; for the return on Monday, May 25, it said travelers should leave before 10 a.m. and expect the worst traffic from noon to 5 p.m. ### What does the airport picture look like? AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to fly to their destinations over the five-day period. The group said average ticket prices for flights are lower than last year even as gasoline prices are higher than they were over Memorial Day 2025. American Airlines told ABC News that Friday, May 22, is expected to be its busiest day of the holiday weekend. (abcnews.com) ABC also reported that airports are likely to be crowded as travelers move out at the start of the break and return near Memorial Day itself. ### Where are officials warning about the worst bottlenecks? (southjersey.aaa.com) The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said about 5.6 million travelers are expected to use its airports and vehicular crossings during the five-day peak holiday period from May 21 to May 25. The agency said it would suspend non-emergency construction work at vehicular crossings from Friday to Tuesday and urged JFK travelers to use mass transit where possible. (rock101.net) The advisory covers the agency’s major airports, bridges and tunnels in the New York-New Jersey region, one of the country’s busiest holiday travel corridors. The Port Authority also said PATH would operate a Saturday schedule on Memorial Day, May 25, because of increased volumes and construction. (panynj.gov) ### Will the weather cooperate with beach plans? ABC News reported that much of the United States will not see beach-friendly weather over the holiday weekend. The outlet said the Northeast is expected to be mostly cloudy on Friday with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees below average for late May. The Weather Channel said showers and thunderstorms are expected to persist across parts of the South and Northeast through the weekend, while weather in much of the West is expected to be more favorable. (panynj.gov) ABC and other outlets said the forecast could complicate beach trips and other outdoor plans even as travel volume reaches a record. (abcnews.com) AAA’s forecast period runs through Monday, May 25, and the Port Authority’s advisory remains in effect across the same five-day stretch. Travelers looking for updates can check AAA’s holiday forecast, airline notices and the Port Authority’s travel advisories as departure days approach. (newsroom.aaa.com) (abcnews.com)