Record breaking number of travelers hitting the road this Memorial Day holiday
AAA projects 45 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period. AAA’s forecast defines the Memorial Day holiday travel period as the five days from Thursday, May 21 to Monday, May 25, 2026.
A record breaking 39.1 million travelers are expected to travel by car, a slight increase from 2025. Driving is the preferred mode of transportation during holiday travel periods, with 87% of Memorial Day travelers choosing to take road trips.
Drivers leaving Thursday or Friday should get on 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.
With a record number of travelers on the road this holiday weekend, AAA Central Penn reminds drivers to put safety first, Slow Down, Move Over, and drive sober. Travelers are advised to stay up-to-date on traffic conditions to avoid sitting in traffic longer than necessary by using mobile traffic apps, 511 services and local news stations. Before hitting the road, check your car’s battery, tire pressure and fluids. Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA responded to over 350,000 roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.
This holiday weekend, drivers are paying more at the pump compared to last year when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17 on Memorial Day. Drivers in the midstate can expect gas prices that are $1.35 higher than last year. As of May 14, the current average in Pennsylvania was $4.53 compared to $3.18 one year ago.
Airports are also bracing for a spike in travelers as air travelers make up 8% of the share of travelers on the holiday weekend. AAA expects 3.66 million air travelers during the holiday weekend, a slight increase over last year.
Memorial Day Travelers by Mode of Transportation
By Car: AAA projects 39.1 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, a slight jump over last year. Driving is the most popular way to travel and makes up 87% of the share of Memorial Day travelers. This holiday weekend, drivers are paying more at the pump compared to last year when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17 on Memorial Day. Currently, pump prices are the highest they’ve been since 2022.
With a record number of travelers on the road this holiday weekend, AAA reminds drivers to put safety first, Slow Down, Move Over, and drive sober. Before hitting the road, check your car’s battery, tire pressure, and fluids. Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA responded to more than 350,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.
For travelers who are renting cars over Memorial Day weekend, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pick-up days. The top 5 markets with the highest demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, and Boston. According to AAA booking data, domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper this holiday weekend compared to last year.
By Air: AAA projects 3.66 million travelers will take domestic flights over Memorial Day weekend, a small increase over last year. Air travelers make up 8% of the share of travelers this holiday weekend. According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their Memorial Day weekend trips, roundtrip domestic flights are 6% cheaper compared to last year, with an average ticket costing $800.
By Other Modes: Travel by other modes is expected to go up by 5% with 2.2 million people traveling by bus, train, or cruise over Memorial Day weekend. Alaska cruise season kicks off this time of year, and the popularity of Alaska cruises is a driving factor in this category’s growth.
AAA’s Top Memorial Day Weekend Destinations
Memorial Day weekend travelers are taking trips to theme parks and famous landmarks, boarding cruises in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and flying to Europe to visit iconic capital cities. Here are the top 10 domestic and international destinations, based on AAA booking data.
| RANKING | DOMESTIC | INTERNATIONAL |
| 1 | ORLANDO, FL | ROME, ITALY |
| 2 | SEATTLE, WA | VANCOUVER, CANADA |
| 3 | NEW YORK, NY | PARIS, FRANCE |
| 4 | LAS VEGAS, NV | LONDON, ENGLAND |
| 5 | MIAMI, FL | ATHENS, GREECE |
| 6 | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | DUBLIN, IRELAND |
| 7 | ANCHORAGE, AK | BARCELONA, SPAIN |
| 8 | CHICAGO, IL | SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND |
| 9 | DENVER, CO | AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS |
| 10 | BOSTON, MA | EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND |
Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says Memorial Day weekend drivers should expect the heaviest congestion on Thursday and Friday between 3pm and 6pm and Monday afternoon. Sunday should be the lightest day for traffic, barring any unexpected events on the road. According to INRIX, as congestion moves out of metro areas during holiday periods and onto highways, the risk of crashes increases as many drivers navigate unfamiliar routes outside of their normal commuting patterns. This stresses the importance of getting a good night’s rest before a road trip, planning your route ahead of time, and driving undistracted and sober.
| Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car | ||
| Date | Worst Time | Best Time |
| Thursday, May 21 | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM | After 9:00 PM |
| Friday, May 22 | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM | Before 11:00 AM |
| Saturday, May 23 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Before 11:00 AM |
| Sunday, May 24 | Minimal Traffic Impact Expected | |
| Monday, May 25 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Before 10:00 AM |
| Peak Congestion by Metro | ||||
| Route | Peak Congestion Period | Est. Travel Time | Increase Compared to Typical | Increase Compared to Typical |
| Washington, DC | Washington, DC to Baltimore via Balt-Wash Pkwy N | Thursday 4:15 PM | 1 hour 56 minutes | 116% |
| New York | New York to Jersey Shore via Garden St Pkwy S | Friday 2:15 PM | 2 hours 57 minutes | 102% |
| Philadelphia | Philadelphia to Rehoboth Beach via I-95 S & Route 13 S | Thursday 4:15 PM | 4 hours – | 66% |
🌍 AAA Travel Manager Donna Zeigler shares must‑know travel tips on Chick2Chick podcast with Flora Posteraro.
Watch the full episode now: Time to Travel: What to Know Before You Go! Chick2Chick Episode #280
