AAA projects 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday period between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25, setting a new record for the holiday weekend.
The travel forecast is slightly higher than last year, when 44.8 million people traveled during Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA.
The organization projects 39.1 million travelers will drive to their destinations, while 3.66 million are expected to fly. Another 2.2 million people are forecast to travel by bus, train or cruise ship.
“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.”
AAA said driving remains the most popular mode of transportation, accounting for 87% of travelers. Gas prices are currently higher than they were during Memorial Day weekend last year, when the national average for regular gasoline was $3.17 per gallon. Officials said current pump prices are the highest recorded since the summer of 2022.
AAA urged drivers to slow down, move over for emergency vehicles and avoid impaired driving during the busy holiday travel period. The organization said it responded to more than 350,000 roadside assistance calls during last year’s Memorial Day weekend, including incidents involving dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks.
For travelers renting vehicles, AAA car rental partner Hertz expects Thursday and Friday to be the busiest pickup days. Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston are projected to see the highest demand for rental cars.
Air travel is also expected to increase slightly compared with last year. According to AAA booking data, roundtrip domestic flights for Memorial Day weekend are averaging about $800, roughly 6% lower than last year for travelers who booked early.
Travel by other transportation modes, including cruises, trains and buses, is expected to rise 5%, driven in part by the start of Alaska cruise season, AAA said.
Based on AAA booking data, the top domestic Memorial Day destinations include Orlando, Seattle, New York, Las Vegas and Miami. Internationally, Rome ranked as the top destination, followed by Vancouver, Paris, London and Athens.
Transportation analytics company INRIX said the heaviest road congestion is expected Thursday and Friday afternoons and again Monday afternoon. Sunday is expected to have the lightest traffic volume.
| Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car | ||
| Date | Worst Time | Best Time |
| Thursday, May 21 | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM | After 9:00 PM |
| Friday, May 22 | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Before 11:00 AM |
| Saturday, May 23 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Before 11:00 AM |
| Sunday, May 24 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected | |
| Monday, May 25 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Before 10:00 AM |
According to INRIX, some of the worst traffic delays are expected on routes connecting major metro areas and vacation destinations, including travel from New York to the Jersey Shore, Boston to Hyannis and Los Angeles to Palm Springs.
AAA advised travelers to plan routes in advance, allow extra travel time and avoid distracted driving during the holiday weekend.
