This coming weekend marks the unofficial start to the summer and it's going to be a busy one when it comes to travel. In fact, the American Automobile Association predicts it will be the second heaviest Memorial Day travel weekend in almost 20 years. AAA projects that 43.8 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the three day holiday travel period. That's up 4% over last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers.
“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”
Travel By Car
As you'd expect most people will travel by car. In fact, road trips are expected to set a record. AAA projects 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number for that holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. The number of drivers this year is up 4% compared to last year and 1.9% higher than in 2019.
AAA car rental partner Hertz says Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities displaying the highest rental demand, with the busiest pick-up days projected to be Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24.
Gas Prices
When it comes to prices at the pump, AAA says drivers can expect similar gas prices as last Memorial Day weekend when the national average was roughly $3.57. AAA says pump prices rose this spring but have held somewhat steady in recent weeks. Prices may creep higher as the summer driving season gets underway. Analysts say the wildcard remains the cost of oil, and unlike last year, there are now two wars – in the Middle East and Ukraine – that could roil the oil market.
You can check state gas price averages on AAA's Gas Prices website.
Travel By Air
As for air travel, AAA expects 3.51 million to fly to their holiday destination. That's an increase of 4.8% over last year and 9% jump compared to 2019. That makes this weekend to be on track for being the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post 9/11.
Ticket Prices
Ticket prices are comparable to last year. AAA says its booking data shows a 1% to 2% increase in prices for domestic flights. That's dependent on a bunch of travel factors.
For the entire story, including best and worst times to travel, click here.
Austin, TX Skyline Cityscape. Photo Credit: Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock.com.