Robust travel expected for Memorial Day despite rise in cost

Experts predict this Memorial Day weekend will set record-high travel numbers despite rising fuel costs. The AAA automotive membership group estimated 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles this weekend, which runs from Thursday to Monday. Travel has increased by 5% in the past seven years, according to AAA. The Federal Aviation Administration predicted about 54,000 flights on Thursday, close to last year’s estimate.

The top U.S. destinations this weekend include Seattle, New York City, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco, and Orlando, Fla., according to AAA. On the international side, the most popular cities included Rome, Vancouver, Canada, Paris, and London. People have prioritized leisure travel for the unofficial start of summer, said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel.

What will travel by car look like? More than 39 million Americans will travel by car this weekend. Driving will make up 87% of Memorial Day excursions, despite high fuel costs frequently associated with the Iran War. As of Thursday, the average price for a gallon of gas sat at $4.56, according to AAA and Gas Buddy. Last year on Memorial Day, the national average for a gallon of gas was over a dollar cheaper.

Memorial Day weekend drivers can expect the heaviest road congestion late between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Monday afternoon, according to the analytics company INRIX.

How about plane travel? Nearly 3.7 million Americans will travel by air, AAA said. The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday will be the busiest day of the weekend to fly, with more than 54,000 flights. Roundtrip domestic flights were 6% cheaper compared to last year, according to AAA.

Dig deeper: Read my earlier report on climbing gas prices.