AAA projects 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day holiday period* from Thursday, May 22, to Monday, May 26. 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. The previous record was set back in 2005 with 44 million people. Despite concerns over rising prices, many Americans say they’re taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to spend time with loved ones, even if the trips are closer to home.
“Memorial Day is the unofficial kickoff to the summer travel season and the perfect time to plan a getaway with family and friends,” said Jim Garrity, director of public affairs, AAA East Central. “Whether flying hundreds of miles or packing up the car for a quick road trip, long holiday weekends are great for travel because many people have an extra day off and kids are off from school.”
Memorial Day Travelers by Mode of Transportation
By Car: AAA projects 39.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend. That’s an additional one million travelers compared to last year. Driving is the preferred mode of transportation during holiday travel, with 87% of Memorial Day travelers choosing to take road trips. This year, drivers have the benefit of cheaper gas prices. Last Memorial Day, the national average for a gallon of regular was $3.59. Due to lower crude oil prices, gasoline prices haven’t seen typical seasonal spikes this spring. With the unofficial start of summer kicking off the busy driving season, demand is expected to rise, and pump prices may creep up along with it. Gas prices typically peak in the summer and start dropping when schools go back in session in the fall.
For drivers renting cars over Memorial Day weekend, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Friday, May 23, is expected to be the busiest day for pickup. SUVs are the most popular rental vehicles for the long holiday weekend. Hertz notes that the cities seeing the highest demand for rental cars include Orlando, Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, and Seattle – all cities featured in AAA’s Top Destinations list.
By Air: Airports are bracing for another bustling holiday weekend. AAA projects 3.61 million air passengers, a nearly 2% increase over last year when 3.55 million travelers took to the skies. While this Memorial Day weekend isn’t expected to set an air travel record (set back in 2005 with 3.64 million travelers), this year’s numbers are projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 12%. AAA booking data (based on what travelers paid when booking Memorial Day weekend flights) shows domestic flights are 2% more expensive than last year, with the average round-trip ticket costing $850. Most of those flights are to popular destinations like Chicago, New York, Orlando, Denver, and Seattle.
By Other Modes: Travel by other modes continues to rise steadily post-pandemic. AAA projects that 2.08 million people will travel by train, bus, or cruise over Memorial Day weekend, representing an 8.5% increase from last year. This category now surpasses pre-pandemic numbers from 2018 and 2019 but doesn’t reach the record numbers of the early 2000s, when more people chose trains and buses after 9/11.
Cruising’s growing popularity is highlighted by the strong demand for Alaska cruises this season. Top domestic cruise destinations for Memorial Day weekend include Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Juneau. Overall, travelers are turning to cruises in record numbers. Earlier this year, AAA projected that a record 19 million Americans planned to take cruises in 2025.
AAA’s Ways to Save When Traveling
Gas: Even with gas prices lower than last Memorial Day weekend, drivers are looking to save at the pump.
- Start by peeking at current prices on the AAA fuel site and use the AAA gas cost calculator to get an idea of how much your road trip will cost.
- Once on the road, remember that the gas stations right off the interstate are usually the most expensive. If trying to save money, drive a bit farther down the road for cheaper gas. AAA members receive stackable discounts on gas through the Fuel Rewards® program at participating Shell stations.
- After filling up, avoid speeding. Fuel economy peaks around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
Flights: Flexibility is key to scoring cheaper airfare.
- Booking flights that depart on Tuesdays or return on Wednesdays will save money, since weekend flights tend to be more expensive.
- If not picky about selecting a seat ahead of time or boarding at the end, basic economy can be an excellent option for budget-conscious travelers.
- Be sure to read the fine print regarding restrictions.
- Reserving airport parking in advance can save money. AAA members receive a discount at The Parking Spot.
- To save money on meals, bring something from home. Just remember, beverages are not allowed through TSA security.
Hotels and Rental Cars: Where to stay and how to get around are two decisions that should not be put off until the last minute. Reserve hotels and rental cars as soon as travel dates are confirmed.
- Hotels in prime locations and tourist areas tend to be more expensive than hotels a bit removed from the action. In major cities, consider hotels within walking distance of public transit to save money on transportation. When choosing hotels, look for AAA hotel partners that offer discounts and deals.
- Reserving a rental car early guarantees a better selection of vehicles. To save money, consider the type of vehicle that is needed. Smaller vehicles tend to be more economical and fuel-efficient if traveling with a small group. For extra savings, AAA members get exclusive benefits when booking through Hertz.
Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects the afternoons over Memorial Day weekend to be the most congested. Travelers should hit the road during the morning hours. The metropolitan areas that can expect the heaviest traffic are Boston, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
AAA’s Top Memorial Day Weekend Destinations
The top holiday destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data for trips between Thursday, May 22, and Monday, May 26. Orlando tops the domestic list thanks to its popular theme parks and nearby cruise port, Port Canaveral. Cruising is also the reason Seattle and Anchorage made the top 10 list, since Memorial Day kicks off peak Alaska cruise season. Internationally, Rome is the number one destination. Vancouver is also popular because of its cruise port. The rest of the list comprises all European cities, as those destinations continue to draw high volumes of visitors.
Holiday Forecast Methodology
Travel Forecast
In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.
Historical travel volume estimates come from MMGY’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. MMGY contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, forecast U.S. travel behavior, and position brand, all after the trips have been taken.
The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared for the week of April 14, 2025.
Because AAA holiday forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes, whether traveling for work or leisure. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore, each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.
Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period
The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as the five-day period from Thursday, May 22, to Monday, May 26. The five-day holiday length is consistent with previous holiday periods dating back to 2000.
