AAA projects 45 million travelers

AAA said on May 11 that 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday period, a figure the group said would set a record for the weekend. The forecast covers Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, and is slightly above the 44.8 million travelers AAA said took trips over the same holiday in 2025. (newsroom.aaa.com) Of that total, AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car and 3.66 million by air. The group said gas prices are higher than they were a year ago, but flight prices for travelers who booked early are lower. The numbers matter because Memorial Day is one of AAA’s clearest early reads on U.S. summer travel demand. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the release that “travel demand remains strong” even with higher fuel prices. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said round-trip domestic airfare averaged $800 in its booking data, down 6% from last year for trips booked before recent jet-fuel increases began to affect fares. ### How big is the increase from last year? AAA said the 2026 projection is only modestly above last year’s 44.8 million, but enough to set a new Memorial Day weekend record. The travel group’s count includes people going at least 50 miles from home during the five-day holiday period. (newsroom.aaa.com) The largest share of travelers is still expected to be drivers. AAA said 39.1 million people, or 87% of all Memorial Day travelers in its forecast, will go by car. Air travelers account for 8% of the total, with the remaining 2.2 million expected to go by bus, train or cruise. ### Why are so many people still driving if gas prices are higher? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said pump prices are above last Memorial Day weekend’s national average of $3.17 a gallon for regular gasoline. The group said current prices are the highest they have been since the summer of 2022. Stacey Barber said in AAA’s release that road trips remain attractive because Memorial Day is a three-day weekend for many Americans and leisure trips remain a priority. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA’s forecast shows driving still dominates holiday travel even with higher fuel costs, and the group said car rentals are 1% cheaper than a year ago based on its booking data. ### What does the air-travel forecast show? AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to fly domestically over the holiday weekend, a small increase from last year. The group said average domestic round-trip tickets in its booking data came in at $800, down 6% from a year earlier for travelers who booked early. (newsroom.aaa.com) PYMNTS, in a May 16 report on Memorial Day spending and travel, cited the same AAA figures: 45 million total travelers, 39.1 million by car and 3.66 million by air. The report also said 2.2 million travelers are expected to use bus, train or cruise options. ### Where else is demand showing up? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said travel by bus, train and cruise is expected to rise 5% to 2.2 million over the holiday period. The group said Alaska cruise season is helping drive that category’s growth. Hertz, identified by AAA as its car-rental partner, expects Thursday and Friday to be the busiest pickup days for Memorial Day rentals. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said the five markets with the highest rental demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston. ### When will the roads be most crowded? INRIX, cited in AAA’s Memorial Day forecast, said the heaviest road congestion is expected on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., as well as Monday afternoon. (pymnts.com) AAA said Sunday should be the lightest day for traffic, barring unexpected incidents. AAA also said it handled more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls over last year’s Memorial Day weekend, including dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group urged drivers heading out between May 21 and May 25 to check batteries, tire pressure and fluids before leaving. The next test for the forecast comes over the five-day Memorial Day travel window beginning Thursday, May 21. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA’s projection covers trips of 50 miles or more, while INRIX’s traffic outlook points to the busiest driving periods later that day and again on Friday afternoon. (midstates.aaa.com)