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AAA projects 45 million Americans (13.1% of the population) will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend. This is up slightly compared to 2025. Travel by car is expected to set a new record with 39.1 million Americans taking a road trip.
About 620,000 Oregonians will travel over the long weekend. The Memorial Day travel period is defined as Thursday, May 21 through Monday, May 25.
“Memorial Day signals the unofficial start of summer, and for many Americans it’s a long weekend. Many made plans to travel before the uncertainty and higher prices brought on by the conflict with Iran. We’ll have to wait and see if travel demand continues to be robust for the 4th of July holiday,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
“Memorial Day weekend is ideal for quick getaways, as many people have an extra day off work and kids are out of school. Travelers often take advantage of the long weekend by planning trips closer to home—heading to Central Oregon, the Oregon coast, or spending time with friends and family. Those traveling farther away are typically taking trips that were planned and booked well in advance,” says Doreen Loofburrow, vice president of travel for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Top Memorial Day Destinations
AAA booking data reveals that theme parks, beaches and cruise ports are among the most popular destinations domestically and abroad, based on searches and bookings by members of AAA Oregon/Idaho.
With the majority of travelers taking trips by car, Bend, Portland, Boise, Seatle, and the Oregon Coast are the most popular regional destinations for members of AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Anaheim tops the list of U.S. destinations because of the Disneyland Resort. Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Hawaii and San Diego are popular warm weather destinations. And the top European cities are Amsterdam and London. Bergen, Norway makes the top 10 list this year for the first time.
AAA offers an entire library of digital resources to make your trip more enjoyable and it’s all available in one convenient spot at AAA.com/TripCanvas. If you are looking for maps, visit AAA.com/maps. With the AAA mobile app, you can request emergency road service, book a last-minute hotel, and even find the least expensive fuel and closest EV charging stations along the way. Download it at AAA.com/mobile or visit the App Store or Google Play.
Road trips will set record
Most Memorial Day travelers – 87% – will take a road trip. AAA projects 39.1 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, a slight increase over last year.
In Oregon, roughly 505,000 will drive to their Memorial Day destinations.
“Driving remains the top choice for travelers, even with gas prices more than a dollar per gallon higher than last year. For many families, hitting the road is still more affordable than flying or taking a cruise, and it offers flexibility and convenience that other options can’t match, says Dodds.
For drivers who are renting cars over Memorial Day weekend, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pick-up days. The top five markets with the highest demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, and Boston. According to AAA booking data, domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper this holiday weekend compared to last year.
Air travel sees small increase
AAA projects 3.66 million travelers will take domestic flights over Memorial Day weekend, a small increase over last year. Air travelers make up 8% of the share of travelers this holiday weekend.
According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their Memorial Day weekend trips, roundtrip domestic flights are 6% cheaper compared to last year, with an average ticket costing $800. International roundtrip flights are 4% cheaper compared to last year with the average ticket costing $1,370. Most of those trips were booked before rising jet fuel prices started affecting airfare. Travelers trying to book last-minute flights will likely find higher prices.
In Oregon, more than 68,000 will fly to their Memorial Day destinations.
Tips for those flying this Memorial Day:
- Check your airline’s website or download their app to keep up to date on your flight status, including checking one last time right before you leave for the airport. Allow push notifications so the airline can alert you of any changes.
- Check-in online for flights 24 hours ahead.
- Arrive at the airport at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours for international. Expect long security lines due to the spike in travelers.
- Airport parking lots will likely be at or near capacity. Many airports including Portland International airport let you check current availability https://www.flypdx.com/Parking. Some parking facilities let you book in advance.
- Consider taking transit, using a ride sharing service or taxi, or getting a ride with a friend or family member to the airport so you don’t have to park onsite.
- Carry your bags on your flight instead of checking them. If you do need to check bags, bring medications, a change of clothes, comfortable shoes, and any other necessary items with you on the flight. That way you’ll have provisions if your checked bags get lost or delayed. Make sure your bags have name tags, and also put your name and contact info inside each bag. Consider using an Apple AirTag, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, or another tracker if you do check your bags.
- Bring a refillable water bottle and plan ahead for meals and snacks. Many airlines allow you to pre-order food up to 24 hours before your flight. The TSA allows solid foods through screening but liquids or gels (such as yogurt) must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule. Airport restaurants may have long lines so it could be challenging to buy food if you have a short connection time.
- Consider booking a flight during non-peak travel periods to cut down on wait times. In general, early morning flights tend to have fewer delays and cancellations than flights later in the day.
- Sign up for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and/or CLEAR before your trip to expedite the security screening process. However, even these check-in lanes will be busier than usual. And confirm that the airports you use offer CLEAR as it’s not available at all airports.
Source: AAA