Americans are gearing up for a record-breaking Memorial Day weekend, with AAA forecasting that 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 22 and Monday, May 26. The figure marks a 1.4 million increase from last year and breaks the previous travel record of 44 million, set in 2005.
Despite persistent concerns over inflation and the rising cost of living, Americans appear undeterred when it comes to honoring the unofficial start of summer.
“Memorial Day weekend getaways don’t have to be extravagant and costly,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “Many travelers are keeping it simple — hitting the road to see family or visit nearby attractions.”
Road Trips Lead the Way
Cars remain the preferred mode of transport, with AAA estimating 39.4 million people will drive to their holiday destinations — an increase of one million over 2024. Road trippers will also benefit from relatively low gas prices, with the national average below last year’s $3.59 per gallon.
Rental demand is also surging. Hertz expects Friday, May 23 to be its busiest day, with high demand in cities like Orlando, Denver, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami, and Seattle — many of which are also among AAA’s most-booked destinations for the holiday.
Airports Brace for Busy Weekend
Roughly 3.61 million Americans are expected to fly over the holiday — up nearly 2% from last year. Though not quite enough to surpass the all-time air travel record of 3.64 million set in 2005, this year’s air passenger volume is projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 12%.
Domestic flight prices have risen slightly, averaging $850 round-trip, with top destinations including Chicago, New York, Orlando, Denver, and Seattle.
Cruises, Trains, and Buses Gaining Ground
Alternative travel modes — including buses, trains, and cruises — are seeing a resurgence. AAA projects 2.08 million people will travel by these means over Memorial Day weekend, up 8.5% from 2024 and surpassing pre-pandemic levels from 2018 and 2019.
Cruising, in particular, is enjoying a major comeback. Memorial Day marks the beginning of peak Alaska cruise season, with heavy travel to ports in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Juneau. AAA forecasts a record 19 million Americans will take a cruise in 2025.
Top Memorial Day Travel Destinations
AAA’s booking data shows Orlando as the top domestic destination, thanks to its world-famous theme parks and proximity to Port Canaveral. Cruise-related traffic also helped propel Seattle and Anchorage into the top 10.
Internationally, Rome takes the number one spot, followed by other popular European destinations. Vancouver also made the list due to its bustling cruise port.
Top U.S. Destinations:
- Orlando, FL
- Denver, CO
- San Francisco, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Miami, FL
- Seattle, WA
- Anchorage, AK
- New York, NY
- Chicago, IL
- Honolulu, HI
Top International Destinations:
- Rome, Italy
- Paris, France
- London, UK
- Dublin, Ireland
- Barcelona, Spain
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Athens, Greece
- Vancouver, Canada
With favorable travel conditions and pent-up demand, Memorial Day 2025 is shaping up to be one of the busiest travel weekends in nearly two decades.
