45.1 million Americans are expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend, setting a new record according to AAA. With gas prices falling and inflation cooling, driving is becoming a top option for families seeking affordable getaways.
Key Facts:
- AAA projects 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between May 22–26.
- This number breaks the previous Memorial Day travel record of 44 million set in 2005.
- Car travel is expected to reach 39.4 million travelers, 1.2 million more than last year.
- Gas prices are down to an average of $3.13 per gallon, compared to $3.59 last year.
- Roughly 3.6 million Americans will travel by air, with 2 million using trains, buses, or cruises.
The Rest of The Story:
AAA’s forecast shows that Americans are taking advantage of improved travel conditions and lower fuel costs to hit the road in record numbers this Memorial Day weekend.
Most of these travelers—nearly 40 million—plan to drive, benefiting from a sharp decline in gas prices due to reduced crude oil costs this spring.
The average cost of gas nationally has dropped by over 40 cents from last Memorial Day.
This, paired with the tradition of holiday weekend trips and an extra day off from work or school, is creating the perfect storm for a major surge in travel.
While air travel and other forms of transportation also show increases, road trips are clearly the top choice for many Americans looking to reconnect with friends and family.
Commentary:
Gas prices are down, and families are ready to move.
After years of rising inflation and costly energy policies, the current administration under Trump appears to be reversing course on several fronts.
Lower fuel prices—now averaging just over $3 per gallon—are a direct relief to working Americans.
That savings matters most to families looking to travel affordably, especially by car.
With Trump’s push to reopen domestic energy production, ease refinery regulations, and bring back American energy dominance, the market is responding.
The result is not just lower gas prices but more money in families’ pockets and confidence to take trips that were previously unaffordable.
Inflation, once squeezing household budgets, is finally showing signs of cooling off under a more pro-growth, pro-consumer agenda.
This boom in road travel is a sign that people are feeling freer to move, explore, and reconnect.
Memorial Day, which once marked frustration at the pump, now signals the return of the great American road trip.
Beaches, national parks, and small towns across the country will benefit from the influx of travelers eager to spend and celebrate.
However, not all states will see the same benefits.
High-tax, regulation-heavy states like California are still grappling with fuel supply problems and taxes that keep gas prices artificially high.
These policies discourage travel and hurt local economies dependent on tourism.
Ultimately, the contrast is clear.
Where energy is cheap and policy supports freedom, Americans hit the road.
Where costs are high and government interference reigns, people stay home.
The Bottom Line:
Memorial Day weekend travel is set to break records, fueled by lower gas prices and easing inflation.
Trump-era policies favoring domestic energy and consumer relief are helping families afford road trips again.
While most of the country will enjoy this travel boom, states with high gas taxes and supply issues may be left behind.
Americans are choosing the open road once more—proof that smart energy policy makes a real difference.
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