AAA: 45 million expected to travel Memorial Day

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 slight increase from 44.8 million a year earlier. The forecast covers trips between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, and sets what AAA called a new Memorial Day weekend record. The largest share of those travelers — 39.1 million — are expected to go by car. Another 3.66 million are projected to fly, while the rest are expected to use buses, trains or cruises. ### Why is the number getting so much attention? AAA said the 45 million figure would edge past last year’s total and continue a post-pandemic rebound in holiday travel. The organization defines the Memorial Day travel period as trips of at least 50 miles from home, which is the same yardstick it uses for its major holiday forecasts. AAA said the increase is modest, but enough to push the total to a record for the holiday. (newsroom.aaa.com) The 2025 comparison matters because AAA had estimated 45.1 million Memorial Day travelers last year under a domestic-travel measure, while its 2026 release says 44.8 million traveled for the holiday in the prior year. The current forecast, as presented by AAA and partner INRIX, is for 45 million Americans traveling this year. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### Why are roads still dominating the holiday picture? AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car, far more than any other mode. The group said road trips remain the most popular option for holiday getaways, even with fuel prices above year-earlier levels. Regional AAA releases also said rental-car demand is strongest in markets including Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston. (newsroom.aaa.com) INRIX, which provides traffic data for AAA’s forecast package, said the heaviest congestion is expected on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., with Monday afternoon also likely to be crowded. Its advice was simple: drivers who can leave in the morning are more likely to avoid the worst delays. (inrix.com) ### What about flights and other kinds of travel? AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the holiday weekend. That is a smaller share than road travel, but still a large volume for a five-day period. The organization also said a little more than 2 million travelers are expected to use other modes, including buses, trains and cruises. (midstates.aaa.com) Regional reporting has shown that the mix is not identical everywhere. In the Philadelphia area, for example, 6abc reported that more than 38,000 travelers were expected to fly and nearly 17,000 to travel by train, bus or cruise, citing AAA’s local forecast. ### Are higher travel costs changing behavior? (inrix.com) AAA’s national release said the forecast comes despite higher fuel prices. A regional AAA release said domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper than a year earlier, while air travel remains part of the holiday mix for millions of people. Separate local reports, citing AAA data, said drivers this year could face the highest Memorial Day gas prices in four years. (inrix.com) The forecast does not say travelers are ignoring costs. It says many are still choosing shorter or more flexible trips over the long weekend, while keeping driving as the default option. That framing comes from AAA’s release and local reports built on the same forecast. ### When should travelers expect the worst of it? (mwg.aaa.com) Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, is the holiday window in AAA’s forecast. INRIX said Thursday and Friday afternoons are expected to be the most congested periods on the roads, and Monday afternoon could also be slow as travelers return home. AAA’s partner Hertz said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest rental-car pickup days. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA’s forecast and INRIX’s traffic guidance are already posted in their May 11 releases, and travelers can use those windows as the holiday weekend begins on Thursday, May 21. (newsroom.aaa.com)