Memorial Day weekend travel forecast: What you need to know

 Memorial Day weekend travel forecast: What you need to know







Transportation secretary warns of air travel troubles ahead of summerTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that issues like the ones seen at Newark Interna...Show more

A record number of Americans are gearing up to head to the airport or hit the highway for the first long weekend of the summer.


AAA forecasts more than 45 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday, May 22, and Monday, May 26, which would break the Memorial Day weekend travel record set in 2005.


Here’s what you need to know:


Road travel

AAA forecasts 39.4 million people will travel by car over the long weekend.


If you’re heading out on Friday, the best time to drive is before 11 a.m., according to analytics company INRIX.


On Monday, INRIX recommends heading home before 2 p.m. The worst time on the road on Monday will be between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., INRIX said.


Air travel

AAA anticipates 3.61 million people will travel by plane -- a nearly 2% jump from last year.


U.S. flights are 2% more expensive this year than they were in 2024, with the average round-trip ticket costing $850, according to AAA.


American Airlines said it's expecting the highest number of passengers on Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23, with 6,741 departures on each of those days.



Passengers go through a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport on May 07, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

MORE: United extends free ticket changes amid Newark airport delays, cancellations

The top domestic destinations are Orlando, Florida; Seattle; New York City; Las Vegas; Miami; and San Francisco, according to AAA. The top international cities are Rome; Vancouver, Canada; Paris; and London.


The most expensive destination is Hawaii, according to Expedia. Some cities with the most affordable hotels are Kissimmee, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Houston; Minneapolis; and Fort Worth, Texas, Expedia said.


This marks the first holiday since the REAL ID requirement for domestic flights went into effect on May 7. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told a congressional panel on May 6 that travelers who haven't yet obtained a REAL ID will still be able to fly, but will be subject to an additional screening process.


MORE: Real ID goes into effect: Here are the requirements

Memorial Day weekend also comes on the heels of ongoing delays at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport due to multiple technical problems, runway construction and staffing shortages.


The Federal Aviation Administration held a summit with airlines on May 14 to propose cutting back on flights 

during the summer to reduce Newark's delays.



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