ORLANDO, Fla. – This Memorial Day holiday will be the second most traveled Memorial Day on record, according to AAA, and the number one destination in the United States is Orlando.
AAA says an estimated 43.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the holiday period, which runs from May 23 to May 27. The agency says it’s the busiest Memorial Day weekend in nearly two decades, but it’s slightly behind the 2005 record of 44 million travelers.
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In Florida, 2.5 million travelers will be out during the holiday weekend, with 2.3 million of them on the road, up from 2.2 million last year.
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Travelers on the roads will be up even though gas prices remain volatile.
“Drivers should expect continued volatility at the pump as the summer driving season ramps up,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. “The wildcard remains the cost of oil. And unlike last year, there are now two wars – in the Middle East and Ukraine – which have the ability to roil the oil market at any time.”
Airfare is also higher this year, with an average price for a roundtrip domestic flight costing $778.
However, hotel prices are down 5% this year compared to 2023, and rental car rates in the U.S. are 17% cheaper for the holiday weekend, AAA says.
The top domestic destinations, based on AAA booking data, are:
- Orlando
- Seattle
- New York City
- Las Vegas
- Anaheim/Los Angeles
- Denver
- Anchorage, AK
- Fort Lauderdale
- Miami
- Boston
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