AAA: Memorial Day weekend travel to approach near-record levels
by May 23, 2024 11:59 am 146 views
According to AAA, the number of travelers this Memorial Day weekend is expected to rise by 4% to 43.8 million people from the same period last year. The number is close to the record of 44 million travelers over the same period in 2005.
This year, 38.4 million people will travel by car, the highest number of motorists for the holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. The number of motorists is up 4% from last year and 1.9% higher than in 2019.
“We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “We’re projecting an additional 1 million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead.”
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.S. average retail price of regular gasoline is up 1% to $3.58 per gallon from the same time last year. Adjusted for inflation, the average price is about 2% lower than last year.
According to AAA, Arkansas has the second-lowest average gasoline price in the United States at $3.10 per gallon, flat from this time last year. Mississippi has the lowest at $3.06 per gallon. California has the highest at $5.15 per gallon.
The number of people who plan to travel by airplane is expected to rise by 4.8% to 3.51 million this holiday weekend compared to the same period last year. The number of air travelers is up 9% from 2019. This year is expected to be the most crowded Memorial Day weekend at airports since 2005, when 3.64 million people flew for the holiday.
This holiday weekend, air ticket prices are projected to be comparable to last year. AAA booking data shows a 1% to 2% increase in prices for domestic flights.
Nearly 2 million people are projected to travel by other modes, including buses, cruises and trains. The number of people traveling by other modes is up 6% from last year and flat from 2019.
AAA defines the Memorial Day travel period as May 23-27 and travelers as those who go at least 50 miles from home.