Get ready for clogged roads and airports. AAA predicts nearly 44 million of us will be on the move over Memorial Day weekend, the second highest number in two decades.
This year’s total number of travelers is a 4% increase over last year. It’s close to matching 2005’s record of 44 million Memorial Day travelers who are heading 50 miles or more from home for the weekend, or for part of it.
The AAA predictions are based on travel for the five-day period between Thursday, May 23 and Monday, May 27, 2024.
Road Trips Expected to Set a Record in 2024
AAA projects 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number for that holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000.
The number of road trips drivers this year is up 4% compared to last year and 1.9% higher than in 2019. Traveling by car is appealing for many people because of the convenience and flexibility it provides.
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 somewhat steady in recent weeks.
Prices may creep higher as the summer driving season gets underway. The wildcard remains the cost of oil, and unlike last year, there are now two wars – in the Middle East and Ukraine – that could roil the oil market.
Airports Expect a Spike in Travel
AAA expects 3.51 million air travelers this holiday weekend, an increase of 4.8% over last year and 9% jump compared to 2019.
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.
This Memorial Day weekend, air ticket prices are comparable to last year. AAA booking data shows a 1% to 2% increase in prices for domestic flights.
Several factors play into how much travelers pay for airfare, including destination, number of stops, and fare class. For example, passengers who book nonstop flights with seat selection and carry-on bags included will likely pay more than those who select basic economy with a layover.
Trains, Buses, Cruises
Nearly two 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.
See Also – Best Scenic Train Trips in USA
Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says drivers leaving Thursday or 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% 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.
Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located.
For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT
Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car
Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time
Thursday, May 23 12:00 – 6: 00 PM Before 11 AM, After 7PM
Friday, May 24 12:00 – 7:00 PM Before 11AM, After 8 PM
Saturday, May 25 2:00 – 5:00 PM Before 1 PM, After 6 PM
Sunday, May 26 3:00 – 7:00 PM Before 1 PM
Monday, May 27 3:00 – 7:00 PM After 7 PM
Source: INRIX
Peak Congestion by Metro
Metro Route Peak Congestion Period Est. Travel Time Increase Compared to Typical
Atlanta Atlanta to Savannah via I-16 E Saturday 4:45 PM 5 hours 31 minutes 54%
Boston Manchester to Boston via I-93 S Sunday 8:45 AM 1 hour 48 minutes 50%
Chicago Milwaukee to Chicago via I-94 E Sunday 4:30 PM 2 hours 25 minutes 27%
Denver Fort Collins to Denver via I-25 S Sunday 4:15 PM 1 hours 24 minutes 56%
Detroit Kalamazoo to Detroit via I-94 E Sunday 8:45 PM 2 hours 48 minutes 40%
Houston Galveston to Houston via I-45 N Sunday 5:00PM 1 hours 11 minutes 73%
Los Angeles LA to Bakersfield via I-5 N Thursday 6:15 PM 2 hours 45 minutes 84%
Minneapolis Eau Claire to Minneapolis via
I-94 W Monday 8:45 AM 1 hour 47 minutes 38%
New York New York to Albany via I-87N Thursday 11:45 AM 2 hours 37 minutes 64%
Philadelphia Philadelphia to Baltimore/DC via I-95 Friday 7:30 AM 2 hours 1 minute 43%
Portland Hood River to Portland via
I-84 W Monday 6:30 PM 1 hour 20 minutes 42%
San Diego San Diego to Palm Springs via
I-15 N Friday 6:15 PM 3 hours 4 minutes 34%
San Francisco San Francisco to Napa via I-80 E Friday 11:00 AM 1 hour 25 minutes 56%
Seattle Ellensburg to Seattle via I-90 E Sunday 4:30 PM 2 hours 34 minutes 58%
Tampa Gainesville to Tampa via I-75 S Sunday 9:00 AM 3 hours 47 minutes 88%
Washington, DC Washington, DC to Baltimore via Balt/Wash Pkwy N Friday 2:15 PM 1 hour 21 minutes 72%
Source: INRIX
Top Destinations
This Memorial Day weekend, travelers are seeking theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas, and Southern California. Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Florida beaches and cruise ports will also be packed.
European cities dominate the international list. The top 10 domestic and international destinations below are based on AAA booking data.
DOMESTIC | INTERNATIONAL
Orlando, FL Rome, Italy
Seattle, WA Vancouver, B.C., Canada
New York, NY London, England
Las Vegas, NV Paris, France
Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA Dublin, Ireland
Denver, CO Amsterdam, Netherlands
Anchorage, AK Athens, Greece
Fort Lauderdale, FL Barcelona, Spain
Miami, FL St. George, Bermuda
Boston, MA Edinburgh, Scotland
Travel Trends
As travelers make plans for summer and beyond, AAA Travel has identified the following trends:
• Bucket Lists: Travelers taking once-in-a-lifetime trips
• Milestones: Families booking anniversary, retirement, and family reunion trips
• Asia: More travelers interested in visiting Asia, especially Japan
• Solo Trips: More people, especially women, interested in traveling by themselves
• Luxury Vacations: More travelers seeking high-end cruises and tours
• Trains: Many travelers interested in rail vacations across New England, Canada, and Europe
• Adventure in Nature: Travelers booking trips to Antarctica, Africa, and South Pacific
Travel Agent Survey
A recent survey of AAA travel agents highlights topics travelers are frequently discussing when booking trips:
• Travel Insurance: 51 % of agents say more travelers are interested in protecting their trips
• Cruises: 77% of agents say travelers are interested in ocean cruises and 67% say river cruises
• All-Inclusive: 70% of agents say travelers are interested in all-inclusive vacations
Holiday Travel Forecast Methodology
In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices, including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.
Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.
The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of April 15, 2024.
AAA Travel Agent Survey Methodology
AAA clubs distributed surveys to a random sample of their travel agents between March 18 and March 29, 2024 to understand recent traveler trends over the previous 60 days (January/February 2024). 186 AAA agent responses were collected from 13 AAA clubs (representing 97% of AAA membership overall as of February 2024).
About AAA
Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of 64 million members across North America, including 57 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA has to offer or to become a member, visit AAA.com.
About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence to enable governments, businesses, and individuals with the right data, expertise, and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges, and accelerate progress for the world.
About DKSA
DK SHIFFLET boasts the industry’s most complete database on U.S. resident travel both in the U.S. and worldwide. Data is collected monthly from a U.S. representative sample, adding over 60,000 traveling households annually, and is used daily by leading travel organizations and their strategic planning groups.
About INRIX
Founded in 2004, INRIX pioneered intelligent mobility solutions by transforming big data from connected devices and vehicles into mobility insights, helping to make the world smarter, safer, and greener. With partners and solutions spanning across the entire mobility ecosystem, INRIX is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and transportation – whether it’s keeping road users safe, improving traffic signal timing to reduce delay and greenhouse gasses, optimizing last mile delivery, or helping uncover market insights.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 25+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA).
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter also is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA) and the North American Snowsports Journalists Assn. (NASJA).
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
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