By Mary Prenon

Despite rising gas prices, more than 45 million Americans are expected to hit the road, fly, or take a bus, train, or cruise ship for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend between May 21 and May 25.

A May 11 report from the American Automobile Association (AAA) notes that this year’s forecast is slightly higher than last year, when 44.8 million people traveled for the traditional kickoff of the summer season.

AAA predicts that people will travel at least 50 miles from home during this time, setting a new record with 39.1 million driving, 3.66 million flying, and another 2.2 million using other means of transportation to travel to their desired destinations.

“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” AAA Travel vice president Stacey Barber said in the report. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.”

As of May 11, AAA reported the national average gasoline price at $4.52 per gallon, compared with just $3.15 per gallon one year ago.

Popular destinations include beaches, theme parks, historic sites and landmarks, cruises, and European cities. AAA ranked Orlando as the top domestic destination, followed by Seattle, New York City, Las Vegas, and Miami.

For global destinations, Rome ranked first, followed by Vancouver, Canada; Paris; London; and Athens.

Vacation rental search engine Home to Go noted some emerging trends among 2026 Memorial Day travelers including smaller cities, micro-beach, and isolated island getaways.

Its report indicates some travelers this year have sought alternative city destinations such as Ithaca or Saratoga Springs, New York, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, rather than major metropolitan hubs. It also found that smaller, less populated beach communities can be more appealing than major beach destinations. These include Indian Pass and Cedar Key in Florida, as well as Carova Beach in North Carolina.

Rhode Island’s Block Island and Washington’s Orcas Island have attracted travelers looking for less hectic getaways, while lake trips have started to increase in popularity. Flathead Lake in Montana, Lake George in upstate New York, and June Lake in California have all garnered more interest this year.

Finally, notes Home to Go, the Pacific Northwest seems to be attracting a lot more attention this year, with destinations such as Florence and Astoria, Oregon, as well as Port Angeles, Washington.

In the United States, the report indicates that 87 percent of travelers will drive.

While fuel costs have risen substantially for airlines over the past few months, AAA noted that round-trip domestic flights are 6 percent lower compared with last year, with the average ticket costing $800. However, it noted that most of those trips were booked before the increase in jet fuel costs.

Travel by other means is expected to rise by about 5 percent. “Alaska cruise season kicks off this time of year, and the popularity of Alaska cruises is a driving factor in this category’s growth,” the report states.