Despite excessive gasoline costs, thousands and thousands projected to journey over Memorial Day vacation

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Despite excessive gasoline costs, thousands and thousands of Americans are anticipated to take to the nation’s highways for the Memorial Day vacation, thought of to be the unofficial begin to summer season.

The Automobile Association of American tasks 45 million Americans will journey a minimum of 50 miles from house for Memorial Day between Thursday, May 21, and Monday, May 25.

According to AAA, this yr’s home journey forecast is barely –0.4% — larger than final yr with 39.1 million vacationers anticipated to drive and three.66 million anticipated to fly to their locations.

While gasoline costs are larger than final Memorial Day weekend, common ticket reserving costs for flights by AAA are decrease than final yr.

However, these costs are primarily based on airfares booked earlier than the Iran conflict started in late February.

Since then, rising gas prices have led to larger ticket costs and surcharges, which means present fares are possible larger than final yr.

More than 503,000 Kansans will journey for this Memorial Day vacation — up 0.4% from 2025.

Of these, greater than 85%, or 429,000, will drive to their vacation spot — down 0.3% year-over-year — and one other 21,000 will fly, a lower of 0.7% from final yr.

The variety of Kansans touring by different modes of transportation together with cruise, practice and bus is projected to be up barely from final Memorial Day, AAA says.

“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans it’s a three-day weekend,” stated Shawn Steward, supervisor of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Kansas. “However, continued economic uncertainties and concerns over rising prices have led to the smallest year-over-year travel growth rate we’ve seen in more than a decade, outside of the COVID impacts in 2020.”

Total Annual U.S. Travel Growth Rate – Memorial Day Holiday

Year	Growth Rate (YOY)
2016	+2.5%
2017	+3.5%
2018	+4.1%
2019	+3.6%
*2020	-46.0%
2021	+56.8%
2022	+9.3%
2023	+6.2%
2024	+4.0%
2025	+3.1%
2026	+0.4%

*Outside of the dramatic impacts on journey throughout COVID-19 in 2020, 2026 is projected to have the bottom year-over-year development charge in over a decade for the Memorial Day vacation.

Memorial Day Travelers by Mode of Transportation

By Car: AAA tasks 39.1 million individuals will hit the street over Memorial Day weekend, about the identical as final yr. This vacation weekend, drivers are paying rather more on the pump in comparison with final yr when the nationwide common for a gallon of standard gasoline was $3.17. Currently, pump costs are the best they’ve been since 2022. Driving remains to be the most well-liked solution to journey and makes up 87% of the share of Memorial Day vacationers.

With extra autos on the street this vacation weekend, AAA reminds drivers to place security first, Slow Down, Move Over, and drive sober.

Before hitting the street, test your automobile’s battery, tire strain, and fluids.

Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA responded to greater than 350,000 emergency roadside help calls – together with practically 1,400 in Kansas – to assist stranded drivers with points like useless batteries, flat tires, and empty gas tanks.

For vacationers who’re renting automobiles over Memorial Day weekend, AAA automobile rental companion Hertz says Thursday and Friday are anticipated to be the busiest pick-up days. The high 5 markets with the best demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, and Boston. According to AAA reserving information, home automobile leases are 1% cheaper this vacation weekend in comparison with final yr.

By Air: AAA tasks 3.66 million vacationers will take home flights over Memorial Day weekend, a small enhance over final yr. Air vacationers make up 8% of the share of vacationers this vacation weekend.

By Other Modes: Travel by different modes is anticipated to go up by 5% with 2.2 million individuals touring by bus, practice, or cruise over Memorial Day weekend. Alaska cruise season kicks off this time of yr, and the recognition of Alaska cruises is a driving issue on this class’s development.

AAA’s Top Memorial Day Weekend Destinations

Memorial Day weekend vacationers are taking journeys to theme parks and well-known landmarks, boarding cruises within the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and flying to Europe to go to iconic capital cities. Here are the highest 10 home and worldwide locations, primarily based on AAA reserving information.

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

Memorial Day 2026 Travel Costs

Based on AAA Travel bookings, common home journey prices for this kickoff to summer season journey appear like this:

• Domestic flights are 6% cheaper this Memorial Day weekend in comparison with final yr.
• Average value for a home roundtrip flight is $800.
• U.S. resorts are 4% cheaper this Memorial Day weekend in contrast to final yr.
• Car leases are 1% cheaper this Memorial Day weekend in comparison with final yr.
• Cruises departing from home cities are 14% costlier this vacation weekend.
• Average value for cruises departing from home cities is $2,750.

Best-Worst Times to Drive

INRIX, a supplier of transportation information and insights, says Memorial Day weekend drivers ought to anticipate the heaviest congestion on Thursday and Friday between 3 and 6 p.m. and Monday afternoon.

Sunday must be the lightest day for site visitors, barring any sudden occasions on the street.

According to INRIX, as congestion strikes out of metro areas throughout vacation durations and onto highways, the chance of crashes will increase as many drivers navigate unfamiliar routes outdoors of their regular commuting patterns. AAA says it is a cause for drivers to get an excellent evening’s relaxation earlier than a street journey, planning your route forward of time, and driving undistracted and sober.

Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car
Date
Thursday, May 21
Friday, May 22
Saturday, May 23
Sunday, May 24
Monday, May 25

Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period

AAA’s Memorial Day vacation journey interval contains 5 days, starting the Thursday earlier than Memorial Day — May21 — and ending on Monday, May 25.