Memorial Day travel 3.66M flyers forecast

AAA said 45 million Americans were expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, making Memorial Day weekend the busiest on its forecast. The group said 39.1 million travelers would drive and 3.66 million would fly, with the air total up 0.3% from last year. Weather forecasters also warned that much of the East would be wet and cool through the holiday weekend, adding another variable for travelers already moving through one of the heaviest periods of the spring. In Utah and Southern California, local officials and broadcasters warned of long road backups and crowded airports. ### Why is the 3.66 million figure getting attention? AAA said 3.66 million people were expected to take domestic flights over the five-day holiday travel period, a small increase from 2025 and part of a broader record Memorial Day forecast. Air travelers account for a much smaller share of total holiday travel than drivers, but the figure is one of the clearest markers of how strong demand remains for long-weekend trips. AAA said average ticket prices were lower than a year earlier for travelers who booked early, even as gas prices were higher than last Memorial Day weekend. Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in the group’s release that Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and a three-day weekend for most Americans. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### If most people are driving, where is the pressure likely to show up? AAA said 39.1 million travelers were expected to drive, or well over four-fifths of all holiday travelers. That puts the main strain on highways, not just airports, especially on routes tied to beaches, parks and regional getaways. (newsroom.aaa.com) Utah transportation officials said U.S. 6 in Spanish Fork Canyon could see delays of up to 90 minutes during peak periods. UDOT said the warning was tied to heavy holiday traffic and ongoing work in the corridor, and urged drivers to plan around the busiest windows. KSL, citing state and national transportation officials, reported that more than 85% of Memorial Day travelers would be driving. (newsroom.aaa.com) ### How much is weather likely to shape the weekend? The National Weather Service said a wet Memorial Day weekend was in store for the East, with widespread rainfall of 1 to more than 2 inches expected from the Gulf Coast to southern New England. The agency also said the West would be comparatively drier, while parts of the northern Plains would run well above normal temperatures. (connect.udot.utah.gov) The New York Times reported that Memorial Day weekend would be wet for much of the United States, with dry, more seasonal weather more likely in the West. Local forecasts in the New York region pointed in the same direction, with CBS New York describing the weekend as unsettled and city officials warning of prolonged rainfall and possible flooding impacts. (weather.gov) ### What are Southern California travelers being told? KTLA reported on May 23 that LAX was bracing for crowds as millions of Americans headed into the holiday weekend and travel experts warned that highways and airports could see some of the busiest conditions of the year. AAA’s regional forecast said California would have more than 5.86 million travelers over the holiday period, the largest state total in its release. (nytimes.com) That combination — a record statewide travel forecast, heavy road demand and a busy Los Angeles airport system — helps explain why Southern California warnings have focused on both freeway congestion and airport delays rather than one bottleneck alone. That is an inference from AAA’s California numbers and KTLA’s reporting on LAX conditions. (ktla.com) ### What should travelers watch for through Monday? AAA defined its Memorial Day travel window as Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25. That means road and airport pressure is likely to remain elevated through the return trip on Monday, with the East Coast weather pattern and local choke points such as U.S. 6 in Utah still the clearest risks identified by forecasters and transportation officials. (mwg.aaa.com) (newsroom.aaa.com)