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 weekend, a forecast the group said would set a record for the holiday period. The projection covers trips between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25. AAA said the total is slightly above 2025, when 44.8 million people traveled over the same holiday. The group said higher fuel costs have not stopped travelers from booking road trips, flights and cruises. ### How big is this year’s Memorial Day travel forecast? The 45 million figure would make 2026 the busiest Memorial Day weekend on AAA’s records, according to the group’s May 11 outlook. AAA said the forecast is based on Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home during the five-day holiday period. (newsroom.aaa.com) The 2025 comparison shows how narrow the increase is. AAA said 44.8 million people traveled over Memorial Day weekend last year, compared with the 45.1 million it had projected in its 2025 forecast. ### How many people are expected to drive? AAA said 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car, accounting for 87% of Memorial Day travelers. (newsroom.aaa.com) The group said that would also be a holiday record and a slight increase from last year. Gasoline prices are higher than they were a year ago. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said drivers are paying more at the pump than on Memorial Day 2025, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17, and said current pump prices are the highest since the summer of 2022. Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA said it handled more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls for problems including dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. The group urged drivers to check batteries, tire pressure and fluids before leaving. ### What does AAA say about flights and other travel? (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said 3.66 million travelers are expected to take domestic flights, or about 8% of the holiday total. The group said average round-trip domestic airfare is 6% lower than a year ago for trips booked early, with an average ticket price of $800. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said another 2.2 million people are expected to travel by bus, train or cruise, up 5% from last year. The group said Alaska cruise season is one reason for the increase in that category. Stacey Barber, AAA’s vice president of travel, said in the release that “travel demand remains strong” and that many Americans are still prioritizing leisure trips during holiday breaks despite higher fuel costs. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### Where are travelers expected to feel the crunch first? (newsroom.aaa.com) Hertz, AAA’s car rental partner, said Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pickup days for Memorial Day weekend rentals. The company said the five markets with the highest rental demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston. (newsroom.aaa.com) AAA said domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper than a year ago. The group also said Orlando again ranks as the top Memorial Day destination in the United States, based on booking data for trips taken between May 21 and May 25. ### What should travelers watch in the days ahead? (newsroom.aaa.com) The travel window AAA is measuring begins on Thursday, May 21, and ends on Monday, May 25. Airports, highways, rental counters and cruise gateways are expected to absorb the heaviest traffic during that stretch, based on AAA’s mode-by-mode forecast and Hertz’s rental demand outlook. (newsroom.aaa.com)