Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - Memorial Day Weekend is expected to be a well-traveled one for several in Western New York this year, with 45.1 million people estimated to travel, at least, 50 miles from home. This year’s domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year, and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record previously set in 2005 (44 million people).
According to AAA, 34.9 million people are projected to take road trips this Memorial Day Weekend, which is 1 million more drivers out on the roads than last year’s holiday weekend.
"It is going to be the highest number that we have seen in the last 20 years," said Matthew Covert, travel manager with AAA of Western and Central New York. "Most travelers are starting to head out today, returning on Monday, with some of them extending into longer weekends. Domestic travel is expected to increase this year compared to last year. That is setting a new record for us, so very exciting to see there."
Despite concerns over rising prices due to inflation and tariffs, AAA members and other travelers are still planning trips to see family members and enjoy the extended weekend, with 87% of travelers taking road trips this year.
The good news for those planning a road trip is gas prices continue to remain down from this time last year.
"It's a lot cheaper to travel by car this year, as far as gas prices go," said Elizabeth Carey from AAA of Western and Central New York." The U.S. average is $3.20 this morning, that's down 40 cents from last year. The New York State average is $3.13, that's down 55 cents from last year, and the Buffalo average is $3.08, it's down more than 55 cents from last year as well."
Carey adds people can use the AAA mobile app in order to shop around with which gas stations have the cheapest prices for a gallon of gas.
Meanwhile, AAA estimates around 3.6 million are going to travel by air this holiday weekend. Covert reminds travelers that airports are likely going to be busier than normal.
"Make sure that you give yourself some extra time at the airports. Air travel is going to surpass pre-pandemic levels by about 12%, so we're continuing to move in a positive direction, even with flight prices being up about 2% this year," Covert said.
Among the top U.S. destinations this year for travelers includes Orlando, Seattle, New York City, Vegas, Miami and also Alaska. Meanwhile, international travel is also becoming popular this time of year.
"Italy being the No. 1 destination for international travel, a lot of things happening over there if anybody hasn't checked the news recently," Covert joked. "It's also the Jubilee, it's a big celebration that happens every 25 years, so it's a really great chance to head over to Italy and really experience that. Paris, London, Athens, Greece, again, tend to be high destinations."
"We are past pre-pandemic numbers, so we are back. There's going to be a lot of people out, a lot of people traveling, so make sure that you do some of those tried and true rules. Make sure that you're downloading your airline's app so that way you can get the most up to date information," added Kelly Khatib with the NFTA (Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority), discussing travel at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.
If you are traveling by air this holiday weekend or at any point going forward, Khatib reminds travelers to make sure you are compliant with the new REAL ID regulations.
"We have been very lucky to have a very high compliance with Real ID with our community partners. Mickey Kearns, very helpful, extremely helpful in kind of getting the word out and everyone else. But we would like to remind people that you have to have that," Khatib said. "Enhanced ID, that is also acceptable. Also letting people know that if you have global entry and things like that, that is also acceptable. But make sure you have that, because the last thing that you want to do is be on that family trip and end up missing your flight."
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Memorial Day also kicks off awareness for the 100 Deadliest Days for teen drivers across the nation. That's the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day when AAA brings awareness to distracted teen driving, and how fatality rates among teen drivers is on the rise.