AAA projects that 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday period, which spans from Thursday, May 22, to Monday, May 26.
This is an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year, setting a new Memorial Day weekend record. The previous record was set in 2005, with 44 million travelers. According to AAA officials, despite concerns about rising costs, many Americans are still planning to make the most of the long holiday weekend by spending time with loved ones—even if that means staying closer to home.
AAA estimates that 39.4 million people will travel by car over the Memorial Day weekend—an increase of one million compared to last year. Driving remains the most popular mode of transportation for holiday travel, with 87% of Memorial Day travelers opting for road trips.
AAA forecasts that 3.61 million people will travel by air over the Memorial Day weekend, marking a nearly 2% increase from last year. Additionally, 2.08 million travelers are expected to use trains, buses, or cruises—an 8.5% rise compared to the previous year.
INRIX, a transportation data and analytics provider, predicts that afternoons during the Memorial Day weekend will see the heaviest traffic, with the best time for travelers to hit the road in the morning hours.
