Memorial Day Travel: Breaking Down Unofficial Start of Summer

Memorial Day travel is expected to reach a new record high this year, according to AAA’s Memorial Day Travel Forecast, which reports on the most popular travel methods, destinations and more for the holiday. 

The Memorial Day holiday travel period lasts five days, from May 22 through May 26. AAA expects 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the period, an increase of 1.4 million from 2024. 

That number is expected to break the record-high set in 2005 when 44 million people took to the roads and the skies during the holiday. 

While rising prices are a major concern, Americans still take the long weekend to travel, even if it’s closer to home than usual.

“Memorial Day weekend getaways don’t have to be extravagant and costly,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “While some travelers embark on dream vacations and fly hundreds of miles across the country, many families just pack up the car and drive to the beach or take a road trip to visit friends. Long holiday weekends are ideal for travel because many people have an extra day off work and students are off from school.” 

The Most Popular Memorial Day Travel Method

By far, most travelers will head out in their cars, with AAA estimating the number of drivers to be around 39.4 million. That’s 87 percent of travelers. Luckily, gas prices are lower than they were this time last year, making it more affordable. 

Air travel is expected to grow 2 percent over the weekend, reaching 3.61 million air travelers. This surpasses pre-pandemic travel totals. Air ticket prices for domestic flights are 2 percent higher than last year, with popular flights being to New York, Orlando, Denver, Chicago and Seattle. 

An additional 2.08 million people will travel by bus, train or cruise over the holiday period, an 8.5 percent increase from 2024. The most popular cruise destinations are all located in Alaska. 

Where are People Traveling This Memorial Day?

Based on AAA booking data, Orlando is the most popular Memorial Day destination of the year, thanks to its many entertainment offerings and popular cruise port. 

Domestically, other popular destinations include Seattle, New York, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, Anchorage, Chicago, Denver and Boston. 

Travelers are also expected to go overseas during the holiday: cities like Rome, Vancouver, Paris, London, Athens, Dublin, Barcelona, Southampton, Amsterdam, and Edinburgh are some of the most booked destinations. 

AAA’s Tips to Save Money This Memorial Day

While gas is lower comparatively this year, road trippers can look at AAA’s gas cost calculator and fuel site to get a good estimate on what the trip will cost in gas. Gas stations along the interstate typically charge more, so driving further to fill up may be better. Additionally, reducing speed by 5 to 10 mph on the freeway can save as much as 14 percent in gas usage.

Air travelers can enjoy cheaper airfare when they depart on Tuesdays or return on Wednesdays. Weekend flights are more expensive overall. Basic economy, which doesn’t allow for seat assignments, is also a good option to save a buck or two. 

If you are parking your car at the airport over the holiday, then it may be more affordable to reserve the spot ahead of time—it may also save you a headache and some time when you arrive. 

Additionally, those visiting popular cities should consider booking hotels within walking distance of public transportation to save on transportation costs. 

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