45 Million Americans Expected to Travel for Memorial Day Weekend

A record 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, surpassing previous records and signaling sustained demand for holiday travel despite elevated fuel costs.

The overwhelming majority of travelers, approximately 39.1 million people, will drive to their destinations, setting a new Memorial Day record for car travel, according to the American Automobile Association. An additional 3.66 million travelers are projected to fly domestically. The figures represent a slight increase over last year’s totals.

This surge comes as the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has risen sharply compared to last year, reaching levels around $4.56 per gallon as of late this week, the highest since the summer of 2022. Prices vary widely by state, with California topping the nation at more than $6 per gallon, followed by Washington, Hawaii, and Oregon. Southern states such as Texas, Mississippi, and Georgia have the lowest prices, hovering just above $4 per gallon.

While gasoline costs are higher, AAA data indicates that roundtrip domestic airfares for the holiday are...