The summer travel season is kicking off with one of the busiest Memorial Day weekends since AAA began tracking travel data in 2000.
Nationwide, more than 43.8 million Americans are projected to travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. That figure is 4% higher than last year and comes close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers.
AAA projects a record 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, up 4% compared to last year. In addition, AAA expects this will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005 with 3.51 million air travelers this holiday weekend, an increase of nearly 5% over last year.
“We’re expecting Memorial Day weekend numbers like we haven’t seen in almost 20 years,” said Brian Ng, senior vice president of membership and travel marketing for AAA. “It’s not just a return to pre-pandemic levels but also foreshadows the robust summer travel season ahead.”
Arizona travel sets record
Travel in Arizona (933,000 people) is expected to beat the previous record set in 2005 (892,000 people).
Road travel is the clear preference for Arizonans with 87% driving for the holiday. About 8% will fly and 6% will choose other forms of transportation like cruises, buses or trains.
Top destinations, travel tips
Memorial Day travelers are flocking to theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas and Southern California. Seattle, Anchorage and Vancouver rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year.
Whether you plan to do so by car or plane, knowing how to navigate travel can avoid unnecessary stress and challenges:
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Be proactive. Arizona gas prices are 16% less expensive than May 2023. Use the AAA Mobile App to find less expensive gas, plan your trip, request roadside assistance and more.
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Be patient. Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24 are projected to be the busiest days for road travel. Start your trip before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m., if possible. For domestic air travel, AAA suggests arriving at the airport two hours ahead of departure time. Airport parking lots fill up fast. Reserve a spot online ahead of time.
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Be prepared. AAA is anticipating nearly 380,000 roadside service calls nationwide for the holiday weekend. A pre-trip inspection at a AAA Auto Repair Center can prevent common breakdowns.
Learn more at AAA.com.
