According to the American Automobile Association, AAA, 43.8 million people will travel in the U.S. during the Memorial Day period. The association defines the Memorial Day travel period as lasting from May 23, 2024, to May 27, 2024.
If correct, this will be the second busiest Memorial Day travel period since 2000. The highest number of travelers was in 2005 when the association says 44 million people traveled more than 50 miles from home. If the AAA is correct, that represents a 5% increase from 2023, when 44 million people traveled over the long weekend.
Types of Memorial Day Travel
Most people will choose to drive because of its flexibility and convenience. More travelers than ever before are going on solo adventures. Therefore, AAA spokesman Brian Ortner predicts that there may be more cars on highways than during any Memorial Day weekend since 2000. Drivers hesitant about hitting the highways should not find any nasty surprises at the gas pump. While gas prices increased in the spring, they have recently held steady. Therefore, drivers can expect to pay about $3.60 per gallon when filling up for their adventures. Yet, the AAA warns that changes in Ukraine and the Middle East wars could quickly affect gas prices.