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, a record for the holiday period from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. The forecast is slightly above the 44.8 million travelers AAA said took trips over the same holiday in 2025. Roads will carry the biggest share of that traffic, with 39.1 million people expected to drive, while 3.66 million are forecast to fly. ### How big is this Memorial Day travel wave? AAA said the 2026 forecast would be the highest Memorial Day travel volume it has recorded. The group said the count covers domestic travelers going at least 50 miles from home during the five-day holiday window. The 2025 comparison matters because last year had already set a record. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 45.1 million people traveled domestically over Memorial Day in 2025 under its prior methodology and 44.8 million traveled in the comparable 2026 framing cited in this year’s release. ### Why are highways doing most of the work again? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 39.1 million travelers are expected to go by car this year, making driving by far the dominant mode. The organization said road trips remain the most popular option for holiday travel, even with fuel prices running above last Memorial Day. (newsroom.aaa.com) UPI reported that gas prices are higher than the $3.17 national average for regular gasoline on Memorial Day last year, but said travelers were still expected to keep their plans. AAA regional spokesman Jim Garrity said in local coverage that most Americans would still drive over the holiday weekend even though gas prices were “much higher” than a year ago. (theintelligencer.net) ### What is happening with flights and other trips? AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to fly over the holiday period. That would make air travel the second-largest category behind driving. AAA also said travelers using buses, trains and cruises are included in the remaining share of the forecast. (upi.com) The group’s release said demand has stayed firm as Americans continue to prioritize holiday getaways and visits with family and friends. ### When are the busiest travel days likely to hit? (theintelligencer.net) ABC News reported on May 20 that the busiest travel days for both roads and airports would cluster around the start and end of the holiday break. Its report said the Memorial Day rush was expected to build on Thursday and remain heavy through Monday. (newsroom.aaa.com) Local and regional outlets also began publishing timing guidance on May 21 as the travel period opened. News4Jax, citing AAA, said the holiday travel window runs from May 21 to May 25 and described this year’s volume as the highest since AAA began keeping count. (abcnews.com) ### What should travelers watch next? Thursday, May 21, is the first day of AAA’s Memorial Day travel window, and Monday, May 25, is the final day in the forecast period. ABC News said drivers and flyers should expect the heaviest pressure points over those dates, while AAA’s published forecast remains the main benchmark for total expected volume. (newsroom.aaa.com) (news4jax.com)