Over 1.4 million more individuals are expected to travel during the 2025 holidays compared to the previous year.
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According to AAA statistics, over 1.4 million additional individuals will journey during this Memorial Day weekend compared to the previous year.
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Airlines anticipate an increase in travelers, with popular spots like Orlando, Las Vegas, and Boston leading as key destinations.
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Alaska’s summer cruise season will begin, with Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau serving as popular stops.
Travelers should perhaps include patience in their packing list as they prepare for the bustling Memorial Day travel weekend.
As many as 45.1 million Americans are anticipated to embark on journeys during the four-day period spanning from May 22 to May 26, marking a rise of 1.4 million individuals compared to last year and establishing a new peak for holiday travel, reports indicate.
AAA data
shared with
Travel + Leisure.
For frequent travelers or airline passengers planning a Memorial Day trip, T+L provides all the essential information you’ll need before departing.
Traveling by Airplane
United Airlines
expects it will carry 3.8 million passengers this weekend, which marks a rise of 300,000 travelers compared to last year, as stated in an announcement shared with T+L. The most popular travel spots consist of Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas; and Boston.
The airline also offered tech suggestions like employing the United app for baggage drop-offs and taking advantage of TSA PreCheck Touchless ID whenever possible at key hubs including Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
American Airlines
mentioned that it will handle approximately 38,000 distinct flights during the Memorial Day weekend; nonetheless, its peak operational day for this year is scheduled for July 6, 2025, when they expect to manage as many as 6,800 flights in one day.
For travelers worried about possible issues when flying into Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), United Airlines has taken steps to address these concerns.
flexibility waiver
For flights to EWR extending until May 23.
Traveling via Road Trips and Renting Vehicles
More Americans are taking to the roads this Memorial Day weekend compared to previous years: 39.4 million people will drive, marking a rise of one million from last year’s figures.
The biggest surge in road traffic will occur in Los Angeles along the I-5 North on May 23 at 5:00 p.m., with an 83 percent surge in traffic, according to AAA data. Other popular routes include Houston’s I-45 South to Galveston and Denver’s I-25 South from Fort Collins to the Mile High City.
Long weekend gas prices will be $3.02 a gallon, which will be the lowest level over the last four years. Gas prices spiked in 2022 when they were a whopping $4.60 a gallon, according to a
GasBuddy
analysis.
“Although our forecast indicates some of the most affordable summer gasoline prices in recent times, concerns about the economy are somewhat tempering enthusiasm; nonetheless, we anticipate an active travel period this season, with numerous Americans embarking on journeys, including many who plan longer excursions,” stated Patrick De Haan, the Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy, in the report.
People who are journeying might also find themselves driving rented vehicles on highways, since Hertz informed Travel + Leisure about significant pre-bookings in bustling locations such as Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Additionally, this car-rental business has introduced a fresh lineup of Jeep Wranglers in their electric hybrid versions and is marking the occasion with an exclusive offer.
10 percent discount
on Jeep rentals.
Embarking on Journeys Aboard Cruise Liners
The
summer travel season
It also begins with cruise travelers sailing through various regions across the United States. According to AAA statistics, ports in Alaska such as Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Juneau are expected to be the top spots for local cruising excursions.
“Alaska cruises have seen robust interest this season, underscoring the increasing appeal of cruising,” as stated by AAA in their Memorial Day Weekend announcement.
The long weekend of Memorial Day is likewise a favored period for scheduling new getaways. As an illustration, Royal Caribbean informed Travel + Leisure about a deal offering more than $800 in immediate discounts for reservations made aboard their vessels.
Icon of the Seas
and
Star of the Seas
, including extra perks for secondary guests and kids.
Read the initial article on
Travel & Leisure
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