Memorial Day weekend has always functioned as a threshold, the moment when summer stops being theoretical and Americans start moving in earnest. This year, more of them are moving than ever before.
AAA projects 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 21 and Monday, May 25, a new Memorial Day record that edges past the 44.8 million who traveled the same weekend in 2025. Gas prices are running at their highest point since the summer of 2022, but the crowds are coming anyway.
The road trip still rules
Driving remains how most Americans travel for the holiday, and the numbers support it. The same AAA report projects 39.1 million people will take road trips this weekend, making up 87% of all Memorial Day travelers. That figure is a slight jump over last year, even with fuel costs climbing.
Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Boston lead the country in car rental demand this weekend, according to AAA booking data. For drivers, timing matters. Transportation data firm INRIX forecasts the worst congestion on Thursday and Friday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and again on Monday afternoon; Sunday is the lightest driving day of the weekend.
Flying is cheaper this year for those who booked early
Air travel accounts for 8% of Memorial Day travelers, with 3.66 million Americans expected to fly domestically this weekend, a small increase over 2025. For those who locked in fares before rising jet fuel prices took hold, the news is good: round-trip domestic tickets average $800, down 6% from last year.
Orlando leads domestic destinations, with theme park demand high across Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and the newly opened Universal Epic Universe. Seattle and Anchorage also rank in the top 10, both driven by travelers connecting to Alaska cruises. On the international side, Rome tops the list, with European capitals filling out the remainder.
Cruises and other modes join the rush
According to AAA, an estimated 2.2 million Americans will travel this weekend by bus, train or cruise, a 5% increase over last year. Memorial Day marks the traditional start of the Alaska cruise season, with Seattle and Anchorage serving as primary embarkation points. For travelers departing this weekend, Alaska’s early-season sailings tend to offer calmer seas and less crowded ports than the peak July and August windows.
A baseline shift, not a bounce
Year-over-year growth this Memorial Day is less than 1%, which tells its own story. This is no longer a post-pandemic rebound or a surge driven by pent-up demand. Americans have reset their baseline and are trimming costs at the margins: booking flights early, driving on Sunday, choosing destinations closer to home, without canceling the trip itself.
“Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel.
Summer starts now
Memorial Day has earned its place on the calendar not because of what people do to observe it, but because of what comes after: beaches fill, parks open and school ends. The road trips, flights and cruises departing this weekend are the opening movement of a season that won’t slow down until Labor Day. At 45 million travelers, summer 2026 is underway.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.
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