Memorial Day traveler guide: The best and worst times to be on the road this weekend, and current gas prices at the pump
Yahoo • • business
Key Points:
- An estimated 45 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles this Memorial Day weekend, marking a slight 0.4% increase and setting a new holiday record, according to AAA projections.
- The majority of travelers (87%, or 39.1 million) will drive despite higher gas prices, with the national average for regular gasoline at $4.52 per gallon, up $1.39 from 2025.
- AAA advises travelers to avoid peak traffic times, recommending travel late Thursday and early Friday and Saturday, while Sunday will have the least traffic for return trips, with Monday expected to be busy all day.
- Air travel is projected to see 3.66 million domestic flyers, a 0.3% increase from last year, with average round-trip fares at $800, 6% cheaper than last year, largely due to early bookings before jet fuel price hikes.
- Other transportation modes, including bus, train, and boat travel, are expected to rise by 5.3% to 2.2 million travelers, driven in part by the start of the Alaska cruise season; top destinations are Orlando domestically and Rome internationally.