AAA predicts 45 million Memorial travelers

AAA projects 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over Memorial Day, covering the holiday period from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, the group said. The forecast, published May 11, would set a Memorial Day weekend record and come in slightly above last year’s 44.8 million travelers. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to go by car, 3.66 million by air and 2.2 million by bus, train or cruise. The forecast lands as gasoline prices remain elevated ahead of one of the busiest U.S. travel weekends of the year. ### How big is AAA’s forecast this year? AAA said the 45 million figure would be a new Memorial Day weekend record. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group said the total is slightly above 2025 and reflects continued demand for holiday trips despite higher fuel prices. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the release that “travel demand remains strong” and that many people are still prioritizing leisure trips during holiday breaks. AAA defines the Memorial Day travel period as trips of at least 50 miles from home between May 21 and May 25. ### How many people are expected to drive? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 39.1 million travelers are expected to drive over the five-day holiday period. The group said driving will account for 87% of Memorial Day travelers, making it by far the dominant mode of transportation. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA also said more than 350,000 emergency roadside assistance calls were handled over last year’s Memorial Day weekend for dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. Ahead of this year’s travel rush, the group urged drivers to check batteries, tires and fluids and to follow “Slow Down, Move Over” safety guidance. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What are gas prices doing ahead of the holiday? AAA’s fuel tracker put the national average for regular gasoline at $4.513 a gallon on May 17. In its Memorial Day forecast, AAA said drivers are paying more than they did last Memorial Day, when the national average was $3.17 a gallon, and said current pump prices are the highest since the summer of 2022. (newsroom.aaa.com) WLOX reported that some recreational vehicle owners said fuel bills for trips had more than doubled compared with earlier outings. That added pressure is likely to be felt most by travelers driving larger vehicles or covering longer distances, though AAA said higher fuel prices have not stopped the overall rise in projected travel. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### Are flights getting cheaper or more expensive? AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to fly domestically over Memorial Day weekend, up slightly from last year. The group said air travelers will account for 8% of the holiday total. (gasprices.aaa.com) AAA booking data showed round-trip domestic flights were 6% cheaper than a year earlier, with an average ticket price of $800. AAA said those fares reflect what travelers paid when they booked and noted that many reservations were made before higher jet fuel prices began pushing up airfare. ### Where will the holiday rush show up first? (msn.com) Hertz, which AAA identified as its car-rental partner, said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pickup days for Memorial Day weekend rentals. AAA said the top five rental markets are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA also said domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper than they were over the same holiday period last year. The group’s forecast and rental data point to the heaviest pressure arriving before the long weekend is fully underway, especially in major leisure and airport markets. (newsroom.aaa.com) Monday, May 25, is the end of AAA’s Memorial Day travel window, and the group’s forecast covers trips taken at least 50 miles from home during that period. Drivers will enter the weekend with regular gasoline averaging $4.513 a gallon nationally, according to AAA’s price tracker. (newsroom.aaa.com)