Memorial Day Travel Insights
More than 42 million Americans are expected to travel for Memorial Day this year, marking a notable increase from last year and one of the busiest Memorial Day holiday weekends on record.
Travel Statistics
In total, 42.3 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from their homes over the Memorial Day holiday weekend (known as the unofficial start of summer) from Thursday, May 25, to Monday, May 29, according to AAA. This represents a 7 percent increase — or 2.7 million more people — compared to the same time period in 2022.
The jump is being seen across various modes of travel, from air travel to road trips, trains, buses, and more. “This is expected to be the third busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2000, when AAA started tracking holiday travel,” Paula Twidale, the senior vice president of AAA Travel, stated. “More Americans are planning trips and making reservations earlier, despite inflation. This summer travel season could be one for the record books, especially at airports.”
Road Trips
For those hitting the road, more than 37 million Americans are anticipated to embark on road trips, marking a 6 percent increase compared to 2022. This increase is spurred by lower prices at the pump, with a gallon of gas averaging about $3.54 nationally, according to AAA. Last year, the average price was over $4 per gallon during the holiday weekend.
Travelers driving should consider avoiding Friday, May 26, which is expected to be the busiest day on the roads. The least crowded driving days will be Saturday and Sunday, while the best times to drive are in the mornings or after 6 p.m.
Air Travel
When it comes to air travel, nearly 3.4 million travelers are expected to fly for the holiday weekend, an 11 percent increase compared to last year and a 5.4 percent increase compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. In fact, this Memorial Day weekend could be the busiest for airports since 2005, according to the report.
Furthermore, a recent report from Hopper indicated that international airfare is expected to reach a 5-year high this summer. The increase is attributed to a combination of lower supply, high fuel costs, and high demand. Just last month, Delta reported that its international flights were already 75 percent booked for the summer.
Other Transportation Options
Other modes of transportation are also seeing a bump, with 1.85 million people expected to take buses or trains, a 20.6 percent increase compared to 2022. Additionally, domestic cruise bookings have surged by a remarkable 50 percent compared to last year, with port cities in Florida, Alaska, and Seattle in high demand for summer.
“We are witnessing a demand for iconic cities, international vacation packages, and cruises that provide more value for the price,” Twidale noted.
