Media release from AAA – The Auto Club Group:
AAA predicts a record-breaking 1.38 million Georgians will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day period*. That’s an increase of nearly 45,000 compared to last year.
AAA expects more than 45.1 million nationwide to travel for Memorial Day weekend. That’s 1.4 million more domestic travelers than last year. It’s also a new Memorial Day weekend record, surpassing the previous record set back in 2005 with 44 million people.
“Despite economic uncertainty and global challenges, travel remains a priority for Americans, with millions eager to make memories with a Memorial Day getaway,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Whether travelers are looking for a quick getaway or an extended vacation, there are budget-friendly options for every plan. From a short beach retreat to an extended cruise, working with a travel advisor can help uncover exclusive discounts and create a vacation that best meets your interests and needs.”
| Georgia Numbers | 2025 | 2024 | 2019 |
| Total Travelers | 1.38 million | 1.34 million | 1.30 million |
| Automobile | 1.23 million | 1.19 million | 1.16 million |
| Airplane | 120,000+ | 117,000+ | 104,000+ |
| Other Modes | 28,000+ | 27,000+ | 33,000+ |
| National Numbers | 2025 | 2024 | 2019 |
| Total Travelers | 45.1 million | 43.7 million | 42.8 million |
| Automobile | 39.4 million | 38.2 million | 37.6 million |
| Airplane | 3.61 million | 3.55 million | 3.22 million |
| Other Modes | 2.08 million | 1.92 million | 1.9 million |
Memorial Day Travelers by Mode of Transportation
By Car: AAA projects 39.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend. That’s one million more travelers than last year. This year, 87% of Memorial Day travelers will take a road trip.
Fortunately, a trip to the gas pump should be lower than last year. On Memorial Day 2024, the national average for a gallon of regular was $3.59 per gallon. In Georgia, it was $3.35/g. So far this spring, gas prices have avoided the usual seasonal spikes, largely due to lower crude oil costs.
“As Memorial Day is considered the unofficial start of summer and travel demand picks up, there’s a chance that pump prices will edge upward,” said Montrae Waiters, AAA – The Auto Club Group spokeswoman. “Historically, gas prices tend to peak in the spring or summer before gradually easing as schools reopen in the fall.”
Gas: Even with gas prices projected to be lower than last Memorial Day weekend, drivers can still find ways to save at the pump.
- Start by peeking at current prices on the AAA fuel site and using the AAA gas cost calculator to get an idea of the cost of your road trip.
- Once you hit the road, remember that the gas stations right off the interstate are usually the most expensive. If you want to save money, drive farther down the road for cheaper gas. AAA members receive stackable discounts on gas through the Fuel Rewards® program at participating Shell stations.
- After you fill up, avoid speeding. Fuel economy peaks around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
Rental Cars: For drivers renting cars over Memorial Day weekend, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Friday, May 23, is expected to be the busiest day for pickup. SUVs are the most popular rental vehicles for the long holiday weekend. Hertz says the cities seeing the highest demand for rental cars include Orlando, Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, and Seattle – all cities in AAA’s Top Destinations list.
By Air: Airports are bracing for another bustling holiday weekend. AAA projects 3.61 million air passengers, a nearly 2% increase over last year when 3.55 million travelers took to the skies. While this Memorial Day weekend isn’t expected to set an air travel record (that was set back in 2005 with 3.64 million travelers), this year’s numbers are projected to surpass pre-pandemic levels by 12%.
According to AAA booking data (based on what travelers paid when booking Memorial Day weekend flights):
- Domestic flights are 2% more expensive than last year, with the average round-trip ticket costing $850.
- Most of those flights are to popular destinations like Chicago, New York, Orlando, Denver, and Seattle.
By Other Modes: Travel by other modes continues to rise steadily post-pandemic. AAA projects 2.08 million people will travel by train, bus, or cruise over Memorial Day weekend, an 8.5% increase over last year. This category now surpasses pre-pandemic numbers from 2018 and 2019, but it doesn’t reach the record numbers of the early 2000s, when more people chose trains and buses after 9/11.
Cruising’s growing popularity is highlighted by the strong demand for Alaska cruises this season. Top domestic cruise destinations for Memorial Day weekend include Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Juneau. Overall, travelers are turning to cruises in record numbers. Earlier this year, AAA projected a record 19 million Americans planned to take cruises in 2025.
AAA’s Ways to Save When Traveling
Flights: Flexibility is key to scoring cheaper airfare.
- Booking flights that depart on Tuesdays or return on Wednesdays will save you money, since weekend flights are more expensive.
- Basic economy can be an excellent option for budget-conscious travelers if you’re not picky about selecting a seat ahead of time or boarding at the end. Just read the fine print regarding restrictions.
- Reserving airport parking ahead of time can save you money. AAA members receive a discount at The Parking Spot.
- To save money on meals, bring your own! You can’t go through TSA security with beverages, but you can bring food from home. Treats in your bag will lessen the temptation of splurging on snacks at the airport!
Hotels and Rental Cars: Where you will stay and how you will get around are two decisions you shouldn’t put off until the last minute. Reserve hotels and rental cars as soon as you know your trip dates.
- Hotels in prime locations and tourist areas tend to be more expensive than hotels that are a bit removed from the action. In major cities, look for hotels within walking distance to public transit to save money on transportation. When choosing hotels, look for AAA hotel partners that offer discounts and deals.
- Reserving a rental car early guarantees you’ll get what you want. To save money, consider the type of vehicle you want versus what you actually need! Smaller vehicles tend to be more economical and fuel-efficient if you’re traveling with a small group and don’t need much room. For extra savings, AAA members get exclusive benefits when booking through Hertz.
Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects the afternoons over Memorial Day weekend to be the most congested. Travelers should hit the road during the morning hours.
Please note that the times listed below are for the time zone in which the metro is located. For example, Atlanta routes = ET and Los Angeles routes = PT.
| Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car | ||||||
| Date | Worst Travel Time | Best Travel Time | ||||
| Thursday, May 22 | 1:00 – 9:00 PM | Before 12:00 PM | ||||
| Friday, May 23 | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Before 11:00 AM | ||||
| Saturday, May 24 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Before 12:00 PM | ||||
| Sunday, May 25 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Before 1:00 PM | ||||
| (Memorial Day) Monday, May 26 | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Before 2:00 PM | ||||
| Peak Congestion by Metro | ||||||
| Metro | Route | Peak Congestion Period | Est. Travel Time | Increase Compared to Typical | ||
| Atlanta | Atlanta to Augusta via I-20 E | Thursday 5:15 PM | 1 hour 58 minutes | 43% | ||
SOURCE: INRIX
AAA’s Top Memorial Day Weekend Destinations
The top holiday destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data for trips between Thursday, May 22, and Monday, May 26. Orlando tops the domestic list thanks to its popular theme parks and nearby cruise port, Port Canaveral. Cruising is also the reason Seattle and Anchorage made the top 10 list, since Memorial Day kicks off peak Alaska cruise season. Internationally, Rome is the number one destination. Vancouver is also popular because of its cruise port. The rest of the list comprises all European cities, as those destinations continue to draw high volumes of visitors.
| DOMESTIC | INTERNATIONAL/CARIBBEAN |
| Orlando, FL | Rome, Italy |
| Seattle, WA | Vancouver, Canada |
| New York, NY | Paris, France |
| Las Vegas, NV | London, England |
| Miami, FL | Athens, Greece |
| San Francisco, CA | Dublin, Ireland |
| Anchorage, AK | Barcelona, Spain |
| Chicago, IL | Southampton, England |
| Denver, CO | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Boston, MA | Edinburgh, Scotland |
Holiday Forecast Methodology
Memorial Day Holiday Travel Period
The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as the five-day period from Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26. The five-day holiday length is consistent with previous holiday periods dating back to 2000.
The Difference Between AAA and TSA Air Travel Data
Because AAA holiday forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes, whether traveling for work or leisure. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.
Travel Forecast
In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.
Historical travel volume estimates come from MMGY’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. MMGY contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, forecast U.S. travel behavior and position brand, all after the trips have been taken.
The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. In particular, AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of April 14, 2025.