AAA projects 45 million Memorial Day travelers

AAA said on May 11 that 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over Memorial Day, setting what the group called a record for the holiday weekend. The forecast covers the five-day period from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. AAA said the total is slightly above the 44.8 million travelers it counted for Memorial Day 2025. The group said 39.1 million people are expected to drive, 3.66 million are expected to fly, and 2.2 million are expected to travel by bus, train or cruise. ### How much bigger is this year’s Memorial Day forecast? AAA’s 45 million estimate is only modestly above last year’s 44.8 million, but the group said it would still be a new Memorial Day record. AAA said year-over-year growth is less than 1%, a sign that travel demand is still rising even as the pace of increase has slowed in some states. (newsroom.aaa.com) The five-day holiday window matters to the count. AAA defines the travel period as the Thursday before Memorial Day through Memorial Day itself, and it counts people traveling at least 50 miles from home. ### Why are roads expected to carry most of the traffic? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 39.1 million people will travel by car, accounting for 87% of all Memorial Day travelers. The group said driving remains the most popular option even with gasoline prices above last Memorial Day levels. (newsroom.aaa.com) Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA responded to more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls for problems including dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. AAA used that figure to urge drivers to check batteries, tire pressure and fluids before leaving. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What is happening with flights and other trips? AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to take domestic flights, or about 8% of the holiday total. The group said round-trip domestic airfare booked for the weekend averaged $800, down 6% from a year earlier for travelers who booked before higher jet-fuel prices began affecting fares. (newsroom.aaa.com) Another 2.2 million people are expected to travel by other modes, including buses, trains and cruises, AAA said. The group said that category is projected to rise 5% from a year earlier, helped in part by Alaska cruise demand. ### What did AAA say is driving demand? (newsroom.aaa.com) Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the May 11 release that Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and that “travel demand remains strong.” Barber said many travelers are still prioritizing leisure trips during holiday breaks despite higher fuel prices. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA also said average car rental prices for the holiday weekend are 1% lower than last year, based on its booking data. Hertz, AAA’s car-rental partner, said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pickup days, with Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston seeing the highest demand. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### What does the Florida forecast show? AAA’s Florida arm said on May 10 that nearly 2.6 million Floridians are expected to travel at least 50 miles for Memorial Day weekend, also a record for the state’s holiday period. The group said more than 2.3 million Florida travelers are expected to drive. (newsroom.aaa.com) That Florida estimate does not match the 2.7 million figure cited in some secondary reports. AAA’s own Florida newsroom posting available on May 17 said “nearly 2.6 million” Floridians, not 2.7 million. ### Where will the biggest crunch come next? Thursday, May 21, and Friday, May 22, are expected to be the busiest car-rental pickup days, according to Hertz. (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) AAA said the national Memorial Day travel period runs through Monday, May 25, when its final holiday count will depend on how many travelers actually take trips of 50 miles or more. (newsroom.aaa.com)