Travel over the Memorial Day weekend this year is expected to set a new record. AAA projects 45.1 million Americans (13.2% of the population) will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend. This is an increase of 1.4 million travelers (3.1%) over 2024, and surpasses the previous record of 44 million travelers in 2005. The record volume is fueled by a record number of people traveling by car.
In the Pacific Region, Region (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA), 7.8 million people (14.4% of the population) are expected to travel, a 3.7% increase compared to 2024.
About 617,000 Oregonians will travel over the long weekend. The Memorial Day travel period is defined as Thursday, May 22 through Monday, May 26.
“AAA expects record travel this Memorial Day weekend, but that doesn’t mean that all folks are taking extravagant vacations to far-flung destinations. Rather, a majority are packing up the car and taking a road trip. In fact, AAA expects a record number to travel by car this Memorial Day weekend – 39.4 million,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho. “The Memorial Day weekend is perfect for shorter getaways because many people get a day off work and kids are off from school.”
“Despite concerns about the economy, travelers say they’re taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to spend time with loved ones, and many are planning trips closer to home. Many will be driving to places like Central Oregon or the Oregon coast or visiting friends – some travelers will take day trips. Those who are traveling farther from home usually extend their trips beyond Memorial Day for a week or more. Many of these trips have been planned and booked months in advance,” says Doreen Loofburrow, vice president of travel for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
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, Eugene, Boise 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 Cabo San Lucas are popular warm weather destinations. And the top European cities are London and Dublin.
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 cheapest 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 – 87.4% – will take a road trip. AAA projects 39.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, 1.1 million more than last year and the highest number for the holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. Car travel is up 3% compared to last year and 4.6% higher than in 2019.
In Oregon, roughly 506,000 will drive to their Memorial Day destinations.
“Car travel is the preferred mode because it’s usually cheaper than taking the entire family on flights or on a cruise, and it’s a flexible and easy way to go,” says Dodds.
For drivers who are renting cars over Memorial Day weekend, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Friday, May 23 is expected to be the busiest day for pickup. SUVs are some of the most popular rental vehicles for the long holiday weekend. Hertz says the cities seeing the highest demand for rental cars include Orlando, Denver, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, and Seattle.
