AAA forecasts 45 million travelers

AAA said 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday period from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. The forecast, released May 11, is slightly above the 44.8 million travelers AAA estimated for Memorial Day 2025 and would set a new record for the holiday period. AAA said 39.1 million of those travelers are expected to go by car, keeping highways the dominant mode of travel even as gasoline prices rise. The group also forecast 3.66 million air travelers and about 2.23 million people traveling by other modes, including buses, trains and cruises. ### How many people is AAA expecting on the road? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said the road-travel figure of 39.1 million would be the highest among all Memorial Day transportation categories by a wide margin. The organization defines its holiday window as five days, from Thursday, May 21, to Monday, May 25, and counts trips of 50 miles or more from home. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said the overall 45 million figure would edge past last year's 44.8 million travelers. The 2026 estimate follows 45.1 million travelers forecast for Memorial Day 2025, when AAA said that year also set a record under its methodology. ### Why are so many people still driving with gas prices higher? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said Memorial Day weekend gasoline prices reached a four-year high on May 21, with the national average for regular at $4.56 a gallon. That was 3 cents higher than a week earlier and $1.38 above the same time last year, according to AAA's fuel-price release. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said in its travel forecast that driving remains the preferred option for holiday trips because it offers flexibility and, for families or groups, can still cost less than other forms of travel. Regional AAA officials said average domestic flight prices are lower than a year ago, but the largest share of Memorial Day travelers is still expected to choose cars. (gasprices.aaa.com) ### What should drivers expect in Las Vegas? The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada warned this week that Interstate 15 in Las Vegas is likely to see heavy Memorial Day traffic. Local advisories said congestion is expected to build around the holiday push, especially on Monday as travelers head back toward Southern California. (newsroom.aaa.com) A separate travel advisory for Southern California-to-Las Vegas motorists said delays could worsen on Memorial Day itself, even though the route remained open as of May 20. The I-15 corridor is the main return route between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area, making it a focal point for holiday backups. (msn.com) ### How does this compare with recent Memorial Day travel? AAA said Memorial Day travel has remained near record levels for several years. The group projected 43.8 million travelers for the 2024 holiday period, 45.1 million for 2025 and 45 million for 2026, showing sustained demand for the long weekend despite higher travel costs. May 25 is Memorial Day this year, and AAA's forecast window runs through that date. (travel.yahoo.com) The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada said drivers can check local traffic guidance for Interstate 15 conditions as the holiday weekend continues. (newsroom.aaa.com 1) (newsroom.aaa.com 2)