Despite Soaring Gas Prices, Record Number of Americans Expected to Hit the Road This Weekend

Despite soaring gas prices, a record number of Americans are expected to travel over the Memorial Day weekend. Here is a look at the expected travel volume, as well as why this week has historically served as the unofficial kickoff to summer.

Travelers Not Letting High Gas Prices Deter Them

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), a record 45 million people are predicted to hit the road or the skies over the upcoming holiday weekend. The prediction breaks down to 39.1 million on the road and 3.66 million via airplane, traveling more than 50 miles from home. This represents the highest number in at least 20 years.

Gas prices are significantly higher when compared to last Memorial Day, currently hovering at the highest levels since the summer of 2022. As of May 20, the national average is $4.55 per gallon. This compares to last Memorial Day's average prices of $3.17 for a regular gallon of gasoline.  

AAA also noted that the average price of a flight ticket happens to be lower than last year. The association reported that the top domestic destinations over the long weekend are Orlando, Seattle, and New York City. The top three global destinations in order are Rome, Vancouver, and Paris.

While Americans are still traveling in large numbers, many are reporting that they are planning to take shorter trips in an effort to cut overall costs. Large urban areas continue to be popular travel destinations, as people can lean on the cost-effectiveness of public transportation, rather than having to rent a vehicle.

The greatest traffic concerns are expected to be on Friday between the hours of 3 pm and 6 pm. The travel congestion will peak again during the same time frame on Monday afternoon. Sunday is predicted to offer the lightest traffic over the weekend.

The official start to the meteorological summer happens on June 1, while the beginning of the astronomical summer is not until June 21 on the date of the solstice. However, Memorial Day has typically been recognized as the unofficial start to the summer. Despite the association with the start of the summer season, the federal holiday was first established to reflect on the sacrifices of U.S. military members who lost their lives while serving the nation.

The timing of the holiday happens to coincide with when many students are released from school for summer break. The holiday weekend is also when many public pools open for the season and lifeguards return to beaches and lakes. All of this, combined with the naturally warmer and longer days, means that the weekend is often thought to usher in the start of the season.