Even as average gas prices inch closer to $5 per gallon in the U.S., AAA is predicting that the upcoming Memorial Day holiday will bring record-breaking travel.
In a Monday press release, the auto club said that it expects 45 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles from home between May 21 and May 25. It also said that a 39.1 million people are expected to travel by car and 3.66 million are expected to travel by air. Apart from car travel and air travel, AAA said that travel by other modes such as bus, train or cruise, are expected to up by 5% this Memorial Day holiday with 2.2 million people choosing those options.
Audacy reported over the weekend on poll results that indicate 80% of Americans are struggling to deal with rising gas prices linked to the war in Iran and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Many Americans also blamed President Donald Trump, who announced that the U.S. had joined Israel to attack Iran back in February.
Despite the financial pressure that comes with high gas prices, AAA predicts that Americans will still want to celebrate the start of summer 2026 with travel. Last Memorial Day, 44.8 million people traveled for the holiday.
“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” explained 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.”
Domestically, Americans are expected to travel to Orlando, Fla.; Seattle, Wash.; New York, N.Y.; Las Vegas, Nev., and Miami Fla., the most. Internationally, Rome, Italy; Vancouver, B.C.; Paris, France; London, U.K.; and Athens Greece, are the top projected travel destinations, AAA said.
Vehicular travel is by car the most popular mode of transportation over Memorial Day with AAA expecting cars to have an 87% share of all travel over the holiday period. Those traveling by air will see roundtrip tickets around 6% lower than last year, with average ticket prices at around $800. AAA noted that many of those flights were booked before fuel prices started increasing.
“While gas prices are higher than last Memorial Day weekend, average ticket prices for flights are lower than last year for those who booked early,” AAA said. Still, budget conscious travelers no longer have the option to get on a Spirit Airlines flight, since the airline shut down earlier this month.
When it comes to gas prices, most Memorial Day travelers will see per-gallon prices more than $1 higher than they were last year. According to AAA, national average gas prices were just $3.17 last year. As of Tuesday, they were more than $4.50 per gallon – the highest they have been since summer 2022.
AAA car rental partner Hertz expects the Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day to be the busiest pick-up days for rental cars. While gas prices are high, domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper this holiday weekend compared to last year, AAA said.
“With a record number of travelers on the road this holiday weekend, AAA reminds drivers to put safe first, Slow Down, Move Over, and drive sober,” said the auto club. “Before hitting the road, check your car’s battery, tire pressure, and fluids. Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA responded to more than 350,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.”
Additionally, AAA has some tips for avoiding getting trapped in traffic. Based on data from INRIX it said Memorial Day weekend drivers should expect the heaviest congestion on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., as well as Monday afternoon. Travelers can head out Sunday should see the lightest traffic, “barring any unexpected events on the road,” AAA noted.
