AAA forecasts 45 million Memorial travelers

AAA projected on May 11 that 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday period, a level the group said would set a record for the weekend if realized. The forecast covers trips between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, according to AAA's annual holiday outlook. The total is slightly above the 44.8 million travelers AAA said took Memorial Day trips in 2025. The travel organization said strong demand is expected even with fuel prices running above last year's holiday weekend levels. ### How many people does AAA expect on the roads and in the air? AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car over the five-day holiday window. That would make driving the dominant mode of transportation again, accounting for the large majority of Memorial Day trips. The organization said the driving total would also set a Memorial Day weekend record. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to fly to their destinations. The group's forecast also includes travelers using other modes such as buses, trains and cruises, though road and air travel make up most of the projected volume. ### Why is AAA calling this a record Memorial Day forecast? (southjersey.aaa.com) AAA said the 2026 projection is slightly higher than the 44.8 million people it said traveled over Memorial Day in 2025. The group described this year's domestic travel forecast as a new Memorial Day weekend record. (southjersey.aaa.com) AAA's 2025 forecast had put Memorial Day travel at 45.1 million people between May 22 and May 26, 2025. The 2026 release compares this year's projection with 2025 actual travel of 44.8 million, not last year's forecast, which helps explain why the new estimate can be described as a record while still coming in just under the prior year's projected figure. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What did AAA say about prices? AAA said gas prices are higher than they were over Memorial Day weekend last year. The organization did not present that increase as enough to stop travelers from taking holiday trips. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the release that Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and a three-day weekend for most Americans. (newsroom.aaa.com) She said many travelers are willing to pay more for fuel or airfare in exchange for a getaway with family and friends. (southjersey.aaa.com) ### Where does the forecast come from? AAA said its holiday travel forecast measures Americans traveling 50 miles or more from home. The organization publishes similar outlooks around major holiday periods and uses a defined travel window for each forecast. (southjersey.aaa.com) The 2026 Memorial Day release was published from Washington on May 11, and regional AAA clubs republished the same national forecast in local markets including South Jersey and Northern California. The Intelligencer carried the forecast on May 16. ### What should travelers watch next? (newsroom.aaa.com) Thursday, May 21, is the first day of AAA's Memorial Day holiday travel period, and Monday, May 25, is the final day in the forecast window. Travelers looking for updated gas-price information and regional travel guidance can expect additional releases from AAA and its regional clubs as the weekend approaches. (newsroom.aaa.com)