AAA said it expects 43.8 million travelers to head more than 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday, an increase that AAA began tracking in 2000. This is the second most popular prediction since then.
“We haven't seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like this in nearly 20 years,” said Paula Tweedale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “We expect an additional 1 million more people to travel this weekend compared to 2019. Not only does this mean we have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, but it also marks the arrival of a very busy summer travel season. It means to.”
Memorial Day 2024: Gas Prices
AAA predicts 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number of people for a weekend since AAA began tracking the Memorial Day weekend in 2000, according to a press release. Become. The number of drivers increased by 4% compared to last year and 1.9% compared to 2019.
Drivers can expect gas prices similar to last year, when the national average was about $3.57, according to AAA, but prices could creep up as the summer driving season progresses. According to AAA, unlike last year, there are now two wars in the Middle East and Ukraine that could shake up the oil market, leaving oil prices a wild card.
Airports are expected to be crowded on Memorial Day.
AAA said airports are preparing for a surge in travellers. According to AAA, 3.51 million people are expected to travel by air over the holidays, an increase of 4.8% from last year and 9% from 2019. This Memorial Day weekend will be the busiest at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million people flew on the holiday as the travel industry rebounded after 9/11, according to a press release from AAA. It is expected.
According to AAA, ticket prices are similar to last year, with booking data showing prices for domestic flights are up 1% to 2%, but airfares vary depending on several factors, including destination, number of stops, and fare class. There are a number of factors that play a role.
Other forms of travel
According to AAA, 1.9 million people are expected to travel using other modes of transportation such as buses, cruises and trains, an increase of 5.6% from last year.
“This category has been hardest hit during the pandemic, with fewer people using public transport or not using it at all,” Tweedale said. “Five years later, we're back to 2019 numbers. Demand for travel is surging, and long holiday weekends are the perfect opportunity to take a vacation.”
The best and worst times to drive over Memorial Day weekend
INRIX, which provides traffic data and insights, said drivers leaving on Thursday or Friday should hit the roads early to avoid mixing with commuters. Travelers returning home on Sunday or Monday should avoid the afternoon hours, when round-trip travel is at its peak, according to a press release from AAA.
Thursday, May 23: The worst times to drive are between 12pm and 6pm, and the best times are before 11am and after 7pm, according to INRIX. Friday, May 24: The worst time to drive is between 12pm and 6pm. According to INRIX, the best times are before 11pm and after 8pm. Sunday, May 26: The worst time to drive is between 3pm and 7pm, according to INRIX, and the best time to drive is before 1pm, according to INRIX. Monday, May 27: The worst time to drive is between 3pm and 7pm. According to INRIX, the best time is after 7 p.m.
New York subway congestion peak
The route from New York State to Albany, New York via Interstate 87 is expected to reach peak congestion around 11:45 a.m. Thursday, with an expected travel time of 2 hours and 37 minutes, according to INRIX. has been done. According to INRIX, this is a 64% increase compared to normal.
Popular destinations for Memorial Day
Here are the top 10 domestic destinations based on AAA reservations data.
Orlando, FL Seattle, WA Las Vegas, NY, NV Anaheim/Los Angeles, Caddenver, CO Anchorage, AK Fort Lauderdale, Miami, FL, Boston, FL, Boston, MA
travel trends
AAA Travel has identified the following trends as travelers plan for summer and beyond.
Bucket List: Travelers taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip Milestone: Families booking anniversary, retirement, and family reunion trips Asia: More travelers interested in visiting Asia, especially Japan Solo Travel: More people, especially women, are interested in solo travelLuxury Travel: More travelers looking for luxury cruises and toursRail: More travelers are interested in rail vacations through New England, Canada, and EuropeNature Adventure: Antarctica Travelers booking trips to , Africa and the South Pacific
According to AAA, a survey was distributed to a random sample of travel agents between March 18 and March 29, 2024 to understand recent traveler trends over the past 60 days. According to an AAA press release, AAA agent responses were collected from 13 AAA clubs (representing 97% of all AAA members as of February 2024).
