More than 45 million Americans expected to travel over the holiday weekend, with road trips, domestic flights, and Alaska cruises topping the list
May 13, 2025
Memorial Day weekend 2025 is set to break travel records, with AAA forecasting 45.1 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between May 22 and May 26. This surpasses the previous record of 44 million travelers set in 2005. Despite economic concerns and higher prices in some sectors, Americans remain eager to take advantage of the long holiday weekend, whether for major getaways or simple road trips close to home.
Key takeaways
- Record-breaking travel: AAA projects 45.1 million travelers for Memorial Day weekend 2025, up 1.4 million from 2024 and the highest on record.
- Road trips dominate: 39.4 million people (87% of all travelers) are expected to travel by car, helped by gas prices that are lower than last year.
- Air travel grows: 3.61 million travelers will fly, a 2% increase over 2024, with top destinations including New York, Orlando, and Seattle.
- Cruises and trains on the rise: 2.08 million people will travel by bus, train, or cruise – a jump of 8.5% from 2024. Alaska cruises are especially popular.
- Top destinations: Domestically: Orlando, Seattle, New York, Las Vegas, and Miami. Internationally: Rome, Paris, London, Athens, and Barcelona top the list.
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