By Jamie Stengle
DALLAS (AP) – Whether it’s a road trip to a nearby lake or jumping on a plane to explore the metropolitan city, Americans are expected to run away in record numbers over a long anniversary weekend, whether they’re rattling off the US travel industry.
Over 45 million people (1.4 million more than last year) will venture at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and next Monday, with the majority being cars, predicting the AAA. Previous domestic travel records for holidays were set 20 years ago.
AAA spokesman Aixa Diaz said the analyst who prepared the forecast didn’t know when they began researching whether US residents with fewer economic concerns would plan to plan their escape for the informal start of the summer, but it appears not to be the case.
“People still feel pretty good about traveling,” Diaz said.
(If possible) hit the open path
Like last year, about 87% of travelers are driving to their anniversary destinations, AAA said. Approximately 39 million or 1 million more people are expected to take the road trip than last year. Diaz pointed out that many families are easier and cheaper than flying.
“I’ll leave whenever I want,” she said. “You can pack as much luggage as you like in your car and stop halfway through.”
AAA fuel trackers show that drivers can expect to pay less gas this year. The average US price on Sunday was $3.18 for regular gallons of gas compared to $3.60 a year ago. Renting a vehicle and staying at a hotel can also be cheaper, according to the latest consumer price index.
Transportation-Data Firm Inrix expects the worst holiday traffic to begin in the afternoon and evening. Drivers who hit the road on Thursday should leave before 12pm, while those planning on departing on Friday should leave before 11am
On Memorial Day itself, the company predicts that the busiest times on the road will be between 4pm and 7pm
What happened to the air travel?
Friday, before Anniversary in 2024, was one of the record days of airline passengers screened at US airports. The airport should be busy again this Friday, but the outlook for this year’s air travel is unknown.
After a fatal air collision in January between passenger jets and US Army helicopters over Washington, DC in recent weeks, Air Force safety has fallen into the minds of travelers after flight delays and cancellations caused by a lack of air traffic controllers and equipment failures at facilities entering and leaving New Jersey.
Most major US airlines said they plan to reduce domestic flights scheduled for this summer, citing economic passengers booking leisure trips. Bank of America reported earlier this month that credit card customers spend less on flights and accommodation.
However, an analysis by aviation data provider Cirium of Memorial Day weekend tickets purchased through online travel sites showed an increase of about 3% at two dozen US airports compared to last year. Bookings fell 10% for flights at Washington Dulles International Airport and 9% for flights at Newar Liberty International Airport, according to Cirium data.
The AAA said it is not expected to set a record of passenger volume over the weekend, but the organization estimates that 3.6 million residents will fly on vacation, nearly 2% more than last year. According to government price data, airfares are 7.9% lower than last month, compared to the previous month.
The US travel and tourism industry will see what is available for the upcoming weekends and weeks of the weekends and weeks to come to light for the summer travel season. Tourism experts have warned that anger over the Trump administration’s tariffs and rhetoric, and concerns over tourist detention at the US border, have warned that some citizens in other countries are not very interested in traveling to the US.
Last week, the National Statistics Canada reported that the number of return trips from the US fell 20% in April compared to the same month last year, while return trips by car fell 35%.
From lights in big cities to starry night
Tara Humphries, director of interpretation for Texas State Parks, said all over Texas, day passes and camping spot bookings were full of state parks over the weekend. The Stargazing Party was one of the events planned at parks throughout the state.
Enhanced to Orlando, Florida theme parks and nearby cruise ports, tops the list of AAAs for the weekends with the most popular domestic destinations. The epic opening of Universal’s spectacular universe, the city’s latest theme park, is scheduled for Thursday.
“There are a lot of schools out before Memorial Day weekend, so it’s just another opportunity to enjoy your destination,” said Orlando’s president and CEO, Cassandra Matege.
The long weekend is a good time to jump on a short flight to a big city, said Haleyberg, lead economist at travel site Hopper. She said weekend top searches on sites that include New York, Miami and Las Vegas.
“Usually, on weekends that have more than three days of weekends, it’s a quick flight, so it’s like a few hours at best because you’re looking for a destination that’s a plane,” she said.
According to AAA booking data, Seattle is another top-ranked destination, with Memorial Day weekend beginning its peak Alaska cruise season. Michael Woody, who visited Seattle’s Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, said visitors can incorporate what the city has to offer and incorporate it into times of nature.
The AAA also predicts that around 2 million people will travel on trains, buses or cruise ships over the weekend, up 8.5% last year.
Weather conditions may take into account travel planning and holiday celebrations in some areas. Nick Novella, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, said parts of the western United States were expected to see hot temperatures over holiday weekends, but heavy rain could fall on parts of the east coast.
Original issue: May 19, 2025, 12:23pm EDT
