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Nearly 44 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles, between Friday and Monday, AAA predicted on Thursday. Highways and airports are likely to be jammed, the busiest unofficial start of summer in nearly 20 years.
Road trips are expected to set a record. AAA projects 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number for the holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. The number of drivers this year is up 4 percent compared to last year and is 1.9% higher than in 2019.
Memorial Day services, parades
Car rental companies Hertz said Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities displaying the highest rental demand, with the busiest pickup days projected to be Friday.
“Long holiday weekends like Memorial Day are the perfect way to kick off the summer travel season and Americans will be traveling in record-breaking numbers this year,” said Bevi Powell, senior vice president, of AAA East Central. “Whether it’s a family road trip, a luxury cruise, or a train trip across New England, travelers are making choices that ensure they have the trip of a lifetime.”
This Memorial Day weekend drivers can expect similar gas prices as last year when the national average was roughly $3.57. Pump prices rose this spring but have held steady in recent weeks. Prices might creep higher as the summer driving season gets underway. The wildcard remains the cost of oil. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine could cause concern in the oil market.
Traveling by air
The Transportation Security Administration says up to 3 million might pass through airport checkpoints Friday.
U.S. airlines expect to carry a record number of passengers this summer. The trade group estimates that 271 million travelers will fly between June 1 and Aug. 31, breaking the record of 255 million set last summer.
This Memorial Day weekend, air ticket prices are comparable to last year. AAA booking data shows a 1-to-2 percent increase in prices for domestic flights. Several factors contribute to how much travelers pay for airfare, including destination, number of stops, and fare class.
According to AAA, this will be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million flew for the holiday as the travel industry finally rebounded post 9/11.
Nearly 2 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises and trains. AAA projects 1.9 million people will take these other modes of transportation, an increase of 5.6% compared to last year.
When to drive
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says drivers leaving Friday should hit the road early to avoid mixing with commuters. Travelers going back home on Sunday or Monday should avoid the afternoon hours when return trips will peak.
“Travel times are expected to be up to 90 percent longer than normal. Travelers should stay up-to-date on traffic apps, 511 services and local news stations to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.
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