AAA forecasts 45 million Memorial Day travelers

AAA said 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over Memorial Day weekend, with the holiday period running from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. The group said that would top last year’s 44.8 million travelers and set a new record for the holiday. Driving is expected to account for most trips, even as fuel costs remain elevated in some states. Massachusetts’ average regular gasoline price stood at $4.497 a gallon on May 19, according to AAA’s fuel tracker. ### How big is the travel surge this year? AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car over the five-day holiday window, the highest Memorial Day driving figure on record. That would make up 87% of all holiday travelers, according to the group’s forecast. The May 11 forecast also put air travel at 3.66 million passengers and another 2.2 million travelers using buses, trains or cruises. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said travel by other modes would rise 5% from a year earlier. ### Why are so many people still driving? Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the forecast that “travel demand remains strong” and that many people are still prioritizing leisure trips during holiday breaks despite higher fuel prices. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said Memorial Day’s three-day weekend and the start of the summer travel season continue to support demand. AAA also said domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper than a year earlier for the holiday weekend. Hertz, which AAA identified as a rental partner, expects Thursday and Friday to be the busiest pickup days, with Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston showing the highest demand. ### What are drivers paying at the pump? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA’s national fuel tracker showed a U.S. average of $4.533 a gallon for regular gasoline on May 19. The same tracker listed Massachusetts at $4.497 a gallon that day, above the national average and near the $4.50 mark cited in local reports ahead of the holiday. AAA said pump prices are higher than they were over Memorial Day weekend last year, when the national average was $3.17 a gallon. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group said current prices are the highest since the summer of 2022. ### Are flights getting more expensive too? AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to fly domestically over the holiday, a small increase from last year. (gasprices.aaa.com) Air travelers are expected to account for 8% of the total. AAA also said roundtrip domestic flights booked for Memorial Day travel were 6% cheaper than a year earlier, with an average ticket price of $800. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group said many of those trips were booked before rising jet fuel prices began affecting airfare. ### What is AAA warning travelers to watch for? AAA said it handled more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls over last year’s Memorial Day weekend. (newsroom.aaa.com) The most common problems included dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. AAA urged drivers to check battery condition, tire pressure and fluid levels before leaving and reminded motorists to slow down, move over for roadside responders and drive sober. (newsroom.aaa.com) The organization’s travel forecast covers trips beginning Thursday, May 21, with fuel-price updates posted daily on its gas-price tracker.