If you’ve got a trip booked over Memorial Day weekend, you’re not alone. AAA is projecting a record-setting 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home from Thursday, May 22, to Monday, May 26. The previous record for Memorial Day weekend travelers was 44 million people in 2005.
AAA says 39.4 million will be taking to the road by car, 1 million more than last year. And drivers will benefit from lower gas prices thanks to lower crude oil prices.
But AAA cautions that prices may rise during the upcoming busy summer driving season. Gas prices typically peak in the summer and get cheaper in the fall, AAA says.
Airports will also be seeing more Memorial Day weekend travelers. AAA projects 3.61 million air passengers, a nearly 2 percent increase over last year. Booking data shows domestic flights are 2 percent more expensive than last year, with the average roundtrip ticket costing $850.
As for other forms of transportation, AAA says, “Travel by other modes continues to steadily rise post-pandemic. AAA projects 2.08 million people will travel by train, bus, or cruise over Memorial Day weekend, an 8.5 percent increase over last year. This category is now surpassing pre-pandemic numbers from 2018 and 2019, but doesn’t reach the record numbers of the early 2000s when more people were choosing trains and buses post 9/11.”
AAA says the top domestic holiday destination is Orlando, followed by Seattle and New York City. Rome is the top international destination, followed by Vancouver, which is popular because of its cruise port.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
