Car Travel Expected To Hit All-Time High For Memorial Day Weekend | Carscoops

A record 38.4 million people are expected to travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, which would be a 4% increase from last year

Memorial Day is less than two weeks away and it’s shaping up to be one of the busiest on record. AAA is predicting 43.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles (80 km) from home during the holiday and that would be a 4% increase from last year.

More tellingly, it would be the second busiest Memorial Day weekend on record and would come close to matching the 44 million people who traveled back in 2005. This is a strong return to pre-pandemic levels and could hint at a busy summer travel season ahead.

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While the overall number might fall short of the record, 38.4 million people are expected to travel by car over Memorial Day weekend. That would be a 4% increase from last year and an all-time record for the holiday.

Unfortunately for them, gas prices are expected to be high like last year, when the national average was $3.57 per gallon. The national average is currently $3.61 per gallon and it’s possible that number could climb by May 24.

AAA

Given the influx of drivers, travel times could take up to 90% longer than normal. Some of the worst traffic could stretch the patience of drivers in Tampa, Los Angeles, and Houston.

Travelers looking to escape the roads can expect busy airports as AAA is expecting 3.51 million people to take to the skies over the holiday weekend. That would be the highest number since 2005, when 3.64 million people took flight.

Besides cars and planes, approximately 1.9 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation including trains, buses, and cruises. That’s a 5.6% jump from last year and is a return to pre-pandemic levels.

So where’s everyone going? AAA says top destinations in the United States include Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and New York City. Other popular destinations are Las Vegas, Anaheim/Los Angeles, Denver, and Anchorage due to cruises visiting Alaska.

AAA Travel’s Senior Vice President Paula Twidale said, “We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years. We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”