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AAA predicts the busiest Memorial Day holiday travel period in well over 20 years, with 45.1 million people expected to travel 50 miles or more from home later this week.
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The cost of gasoline has decreased slightly from what was observed in 2024; currently, the nationwide average for one gallon stands at $3.17 as reported on Tuesday, May 20. This figure contrasts with the $3.59 recorded during Memorial Day of the previous year.
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This holiday weekend is anticipated to exceed the 2024 travel figures by 1.4 million individuals as well.
The AAA predicts that approximately 45.1 million individuals will journey over 50 miles during the extended Memorial Day weekend, which runs from Thursday, May 22nd to Monday, May 26th. If accurate, this projection would mark a historical high, surpassing the prior peak of 44 million travelers documented back in 2005.
It is anticipated that this year’s projection will surpass last year’s travel figures by approximately 1.4 million travelers.
Of the 45.1 million individuals anticipated to travel this weekend, AAA predicts that 39.2 million will do so by automobile.
The positive development is that crude oil prices have dropped significantly from what they were in past years. According to AAA, gasoline prices have not experienced their typical seasonal increases. This comes as a relief for those planning trips by car. However, U.S. roads will still see an extra one million travelers this weekend compared to last year’s figures.
Currently, the nationwide average for gasoline stands at $3.17 per gallon as of Tuesday, May 20, down from $3.59 during the same period last year’s Memorial Day. However, with just six more days until the holiday, prices might increase again as consumer demand rises over the next few days.
It’s worth mentioning that this year, Memorial Day occurs somewhat sooner in the month, leading to a greater overlap with college and graduation travel seasons.
Air travel is also poised for substantial growth, with AAA projecting a 2% rise in traveler numbers over last year’s figures, totaling an estimated 3.61 million air passengers. This year’s statistics are anticipated to surpass those from before the pandemic by 12%. However, they will come close yet still fall slightly short of the historical high of 3.64 million travelers recorded back in 2005. It’s worth noting that these predictions hold true despite today’s inflated ticket costs amidst what many describe as an ongoing economic downturn.
If there is one additional irritation when flying this year, particularly during a bustling holiday period, it’s the reality that
Airports (along with DMVs) are currently handling the shift towards Real ID cards.
, which has already caused considerable anxiety among those who fly less often.
More unfortunate news for those who travel by air is that ticket prices have kept climbing since the beginning of the pandemic, with estimates suggesting they will be approximately 2% higher than in 2024.
A 2% bump may not sound like much in a vacuum, but AAA notes that the average round trip ticket these days is already $850.
This could be why, by 2025, travel by train, bus, or cruise might experience an increase of around 8.5%. These transportation methods have actually surpassed their pre-pandemic figures, with estimates suggesting they will go beyond what was typical back in 2018 and 2019, for example.
Growing interest in cruising is evident from the high demand for Alaskan voyages this season,” according to AAA. “Popular domestic cruise spots over the Memorial Day weekend are Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Juneau.
AAA indicates that the heaviest traffic for road travelers will occur during the afternoon of Thursday, May 22nd, which will be among the peak travel times, along with Friday afternoon.
Similarly, the late afternoon and evening hours of Monday, May 26, are expected to see heavy traffic as people hit the roads for their journey back.
If you’re traveling by car, AAA suggests leaving early on Thursday or Friday whenever feasible. For your return trip on Monday, try finishing up earlier in the day during late morning or mid-afternoon to avoid heavier traffic.
The travel car behemoth Hertz points out that Fridays are peak days for vehicle rentals, with major cities such as Seattle, Miami, Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Orlando anticipated to experience the greatest demand this year.
Have
higher air fares
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