AAA Travel reported this week that the company expects a significant increase in the number of Americans planning to travel on this Memorial Day holiday weekend. From May 27 to May 31, more than 37 million people are expected to be 50 miles or more from home. This is a 60 percent increase over the previous year when only 23 million people traveled – the lowest since AAA began recording in 2000.

The expected sharp surge in demand from last year’s vacation, which declined in the early stages of the pandemic, is still 13 percent – or nearly 6 million – fewer travelers than in 2019. AAA urged those traveling this year to be cautious Take action and take steps to protect yourself and others while the pandemic continues.

“As more people get the COVID-19 vaccine and consumer confidence grows, Americans show a strong desire to travel on Memorial Day,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “This pent-up demand will result in a significant increase in Memorial Day travel, which is a strong indicator for the summer, although we must all remember to continue to take important safety precautions.”

AAA noted that the actual number of vacationers could fluctuate as Memorial Day approaches. If there is an increase in reported cases attributable to new COVID-19 variants, some people may choose to stay at home while others notice the sharp advances in vaccinations and make last minute decisions to to travel. AAA recommended working with a travel agent that can help if travelers need to make last minute changes to travel plans, as well as explore travel insurance options and help them plan a vacation that suits their needs and levels of comfort this summer .

Another factor contributing to the expected increase in travel on this vacation is the recently updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) that allow fully vaccinated low-risk people to travel domestically while taking reasonable precautions. It’s important to keep in mind that some local and state travel restrictions may still apply, however, AAA representatives noted. Travelers can refer to AAA’s COVID-19 travel restriction card TripTik.AAA.com Find the latest information on planning your trip here.

For travelers who are not vaccinated but plan to travel, the CDC recommends practicing social distancing, wearing a mask, washing their hands, and getting tested before and after the trip. Whether or not people have been vaccinated, people should remember that on planes, buses, trains, and other public transportation going into, inside, or outside of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and train stations, as well as representatives of the AAA masks required masks are required said.

AAA Travel has seen a significant increase in online traffic and bookings recently AAA.com – especially for hotels and rental cars – on the way to the summer travel season. AAA booking data shows that domestic travel and road travel remain the top drivers of travel recovery in the short term.

Orlando and Las Vegas are top Memorial Day destinations this year, both for AAA travel bookings and TripTik road trips. Other top destinations include road trips to: Myrtle Beach, SC; Denver; and Nashville. Top AAA travel bookings include: Honolulu; Anchorage; and Colorado Springs, Colo.

When planning a trip, refer to the new AAA Digital TourBook Travel Guides, now available for destinations in the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean at TourBook.AAA.com. The new interactive manuals are also available on smartphones, tablets or desktops and offer detailed destination information, must-see attractions, sample routes and much more.

Huge increase in air traffic expected

Most Memorial Day travelers go on road trips

With 34 million Americans planning road trips on Memorial Day, the number of car trips is projected to increase 52 percent compared to 2020. Almost 12 million Americans are projected to travel by car on this vacation than in 2020, although that’s still 9 percent fewer than in 2019. More than 9 in 10 travelers on Memorial Day will get to their destinations as many Americans continue Replace road travel with travel by air, train, and other means of transport.

The AAA Great American Road Trip campaign runs May 1st through Labor Day and aims to inspire, excite, and motivate potential travelers to say that AAA is ready to help them plan their next big one Road trips to help.

“We have compiled our preferred travel planning resources based on over 100 years of experience and expertise on the road. As we continue to monitor the positive steps in the CDC Air Travel Policy, we want to show our members that we are there for them, our stores are open, and we are ready to help with travel planning at every turn. AAA.com/RoadTrip is a free resource that travelers can use to find inspiration, explore destinations, plan the perfect route, and prepare for their vehicle road trip. “

After a historically low year of flying in 2020, almost 2.5 million Americans will board aircraft on this memorial day, almost six times more than last year (up 577 percent). Still, 750,000 fewer people will fly to the skies on this vacation than in 2019, AAA predicted, and travelers are also reminded that masks are required at all airports and flights.

Meanwhile, on this memorial day, only 237,000 Americans will travel by other modes of transport such as buses and trains. This is the second lowest volume ever recorded, higher than the 185,000 who traveled in 2020. In 2021, travel via these modes will be 88 percent below 2019 levels, AAA predicted.

2021 Memorial Day vacation travelers

total automobile air Others (bus, train, cruise)
2021 (forecast) 37.1 M. 34.4 M. 2.5 m 237,000
2020 (current) * 23.1 M. 22.6 M. 363,000 185,000
2019 (current) 42.8 M. 37.6 M. 3.2 m 1.9 m
Change (2019 to 2021) −13.3% -8.7% -23.4% -87.5%
Change (2020 to 2021) + 60% + 52.4% + 577.5% + 28.0%
* AAA has not released a forecast for Memorial Day vacation travel in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For comparison purposes, however, the actual travel volume after the vacation was recorded this year.

Drivers take note: the worst times to get on the road

INRIX has predicted that drivers will have the longest delays before the holiday weekend – especially in the afternoons on Thursday May 27th and Friday May 28th. Drivers in several major U.S. metros could experience double the travel time compared to a normal trip, said drivers from Atlanta, Houston and New York saw more than three times the delay on the busiest corridors.

“Although vehicle journeys in some subways have decreased by up to 40 percent, congestion in the afternoon has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels. With the increase in leisure travelers on the typical afternoon commute, drivers on the larger subways should expect longer delays on their way to the vacation weekend, ”said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Travelers should expect delays that begin Wednesday and last through Memorial Day. We advise drivers to avoid the evening commute and plan alternative routes. “

Prepare your car before driving on the road and ensure higher gasoline prices

For the 34 million Americans predicted to travel by car on Memorial Day, they can expect gasoline prices to be the most expensive since 2014, with the national average potentially being more than $ 3 a gallon.

“We don’t expect higher gasoline prices to put drivers off this holiday season as many Americans love to travel,” said Jeanette C. McGee, AAA spokeswoman. “We typically find that as pump prices go up, travelers are looking for more free activities or eating out less while on vacation, but still making their planned trips.”

Gas prices will rise in part due to higher demand. As demand increases, gas stations are working to adjust delivery schedules to keep pace. However, there have been cases where some stations see little to no supply to the pumps for a few days due to late deliveries. During the holiday weekend, some gas stations in popular travel destinations such as beaches and mountain areas may be affected by this situation.

At this point, the Colonial Pipeline, which supplies 45 percent of the fuel to the east coast, is offline due to a cyberattack that is expected to contribute to temporary price increases and limited fuel supplies. This will affect areas from Mississippi to Tennessee and the east coast from Georgia to Delaware, but the pipeline owner’s goal was to get the pipeline back in service significantly by the end of the week.

Drying out a vehicle’s fuel tank is more than an inconvenience, AAA reminded motorists – it could also lead to costly mechanical problems later on. AAA recommends keeping an eye on the fuel level and refueling before arriving at your final destination. The AAA app provides insight into gasoline prices, and motorists can call a station at any time to confirm they are open for business.

Before AAA hits the road, motorists should plan their route in advance and make sure their vehicle is ready to avoid breaking down along the way. AAA expects to save more than 468,000 roadside Americans this Memorial Day weekend.

Drivers should also not leave their homes by the roadside without emergency equipment and should continue to pack extra snacks or meals and cleaning supplies, including disinfectant wipes.

AAA’s forecasts are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit, a London-based business information provider. For the purposes of this forecast, Memorial Day vacation travel time is defined as Thursday, May 27th through Monday, May 31st. The five-day vacation time coincides with previous Memorial Day vacation times. The forecast was completed in the week of April 12th.

Working with AAA, IHS Markit developed a unique method of forecasting actual inland travel volume using macroeconomic factors such as employment, production, household wealth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, property market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, and air travel Hotel stays. For the Memorial Day 2021 vacation travel forecast, IHS Markit also examined changes in the IHS Markit Containment Index related to restrictions and activities related to COVID 19.