AAA projects 3.66M Memorial Day flyers

AAA said nearly 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home over Memorial Day weekend, setting what the group called a record for the holiday period. Of those travelers, 3.66 million are projected to fly domestically and 39.1 million are expected to drive, according to AAA’s May 19 forecast. The increase from last year is small — less than 1% overall and 0.3% for air travel — but it comes as much of the country heads into the holiday under a wet and cool forecast. The National Park Service is also waiving entrance fees on Monday, May 25, at sites that normally charge admission, adding another draw for holiday travelers. ### How many people are AAA and others expecting to travel? AAA said the Memorial Day travel window runs from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. The organization projected nearly 45 million travelers in total, topping last year’s 44.8 million and marking the highest Memorial Day total on record in its forecast. (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) The biggest share will be on the roads. AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car, while 3.66 million are projected to fly and the rest will use buses, trains or cruises. Yahoo, citing AAA, reported the domestic air figure would be a 0.3% increase from a year earlier. (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) ### Why is flying up only slightly? AAA said year-over-year growth for the holiday is under 1%, even as total travel reaches a record. The group said average ticket prices for flights were lower than last year for travelers who booked early, while gas prices were higher than they were over Memorial Day weekend in 2025. (exploreclarion.com) USA Today, citing AAA, said the forecast points to higher travel numbers despite rising gas prices. The Hill, also citing AAA, reported pump prices are the highest they have been since 2022. ### What kind of weather are travelers facing? (newsroom.acg.aaa.com) The New York Times reported on May 22 that Memorial Day weekend would be wet and cool for much of the United States, while the West should be drier and closer to seasonal conditions. Other regional forecasts pointed to similar patterns in parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. (usatoday.com) CBS New York said the Tri-State Area could see about 2 inches of rain on average, with some places getting as much as 4 inches before the weekend ends. USA Today and Fox Weather also reported that rain and thunderstorms were expected to affect millions of people across the South and East. (article.wn.com) ### What does the park fee waiver actually cover? The National Park Service said entrance fees will be waived on Monday, May 25, at all sites that normally charge an entrance fee. The agency said other charges can still apply, including timed-entry or reservation fees. The waiver applies to more than 100 fee-charging national park sites, according to park-travel listings and local reports. (cbsnews.com) Those include major destinations such as Yosemite and Muir Woods that often see heavy holiday traffic. ### So what should travelers watch next? Monday, May 25, is the key date for both the park fee waiver and the end of AAA’s five-day Memorial Day travel period. (nps.gov) Travelers heading to national parks will still need to check whether timed-entry or reservation requirements remain in place at individual sites, the National Park Service said. (nationalparktrips.com)