AAA: Memorial Day Travel at Highest Level since 2005

39.3 million Americans expected to travel this Memorial Day weekend

AAA projects 39.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend. That is one million more travelers than last year taking to the roads, skies, rails and water, creating the highest Memorial Day travel volume since 2005. The 2017 forecast is 29 percent higher than the 2009 post-recession low of 30.5 million. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 25 to Monday, May 29.

“The expected spike in Memorial Day travel mirrors the positive growth seen throughout the travel industry this year,” said Marilyn Buskohl, spokeswoman for AAA South Dakota. “Higher confidence has led to more consumer spending and many of us are putting that extra cash into travel over the holiday.”

By the Numbers: Memorial Day Travel Forecast

2017 will mark the third consecutive year of growth in Memorial Day travel with 2.7 percent more travelers than last year.

34.6 million Americans (88.1 percent of travelers) will drive to their destinations, an increase of 2.4 percent over last year.

2.9 million Americans are taking to the skies this Memorial Day, increasing air travel by 5.5 percent over last year.

1.75 million Americans, an increase 2.9 percent from 2016, will look to other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses.

Drivers will pay the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2015.

Airfares, car rental rates and mid-range hotels are all trending higher than last Memorial Day.

Travelers still hitting the road despite higher gas prices

While AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2015, the vast majority of holiday travelers (88.1 percent) are still planning to hit the road. Automobile travel will grow by 2.4 percent this Memorial Day, with 34.6 million Americans planning a holiday road trip. The national average price for a gallon of gas was $2.34 per gallon yesterday, 12 cents more than last year.

More Americans are planning to rent cars for their holiday road trips this year. AAA’s car rental bookings are 19 percent higher than last Memorial Day. According to Hertz, the busiest day for car rental pick-ups is expected to be Friday, May 26, based on last year’s data.