DALLAS — As the Memorial Day weekend approached, U.S. highways and airports became increasingly crowded as many Americans prepared for a break. Despite ongoing challenges within the U.S. travel sector, including aging infrastructure and political concerns, expectations were set for a record-high number of travelers across the country.
AAA predicted an increase in travel this Memorial Day, estimating that more than 45 million people would journey at least 50 miles from home between Thursday and Monday, surpassing last year’s figures by 1.4 million. Most of these travelers opted for road trips, breaking a 20-year-old record for domestic holiday travel.
Initial predictions by analysts worried that economic factors might deter people from planning trips for the unofficial start of summer. However, this has not been the case, as stated by Aixa Diaz from AAA. “People are still feeling pretty good about travel,” she mentioned, noting that some might just decide to scale back on spending during their trips.
Travelers were advised to stay vigilant regarding potential severe weather alerts since weather conditions are the leading cause of flight delays, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, and extreme weather events not only delay flights but can also complicate road travel.
The National Weather Service envisioned a series of thunderstorms across the south-central states, potentially bringing hail, strong winds, and possible tornadoes in regions like the Great Plains through Monday. Flooding concerns were highlighted from the Central Plains across the Ozarks and central Texas up to the Tennessee Valley.
Road trips remained the favored mode of transport for nearly 87% of travelers. Approximately 39 million people intended to drive to their destinations, largely due to the convenience and cost-effectiveness compared to flying, Diaz explained. “You leave whenever you want,” she said, highlighting the flexibility of road travel.
This year, drivers could also benefit from lower fuel prices; the national average cost of regular gasoline was about $3.20 per gallon, a drop from $3.61 the previous year. The Consumer Price Index suggested that car rental and hotel stay costs could also see a decline, easing travel expenses further.
Traffic congestion was anticipated to peak during the afternoons and evenings. To avoid the heaviest traffic, especially for those returning home on Memorial Day itself, transportation data provider INRIX advised planning departures before 4 p.m.
On the aviation front, the Transportation Security Administration prepared to screen around 18 million travelers from Thursday to the following Wednesday. The peak in flights was expected on Thursday, with nearly 54,000 flights scheduled.
Recent safety concerns, such as the January mid-air collision above Washington D.C., combined with flight delays and cancellations due to a shortage of air traffic controllers and equipment failures, have made many travelers apprehensive about flying. However, some travelers, like Gary Anderson, a truck driver from Washington D.C., decided the convenience outweighed the concerns as he booked a flight to Dallas for a family event.
Despite some airlines cutting back on domestic flights due to a decrease in leisure travelers, online travel bookings showed an uptick in interest compared to the previous year. Analysis indicated a 6% rise in bookings for Memorial Day weekend across several U.S. airports.
Danielle Clinton, who flew into Dallas from Chicago to celebrate her birthday, was one such case of continued interest in air travel. Her trip, marking her first time flying in the year, cost her around $200 for a round trip, which she saw as a fair deal.
Looking ahead to the summer, the U.S. travel and tourism industry is closely monitoring the travel trends emerging from this weekend, though international interest might be waning due to political tensions and concerns about border policies.
For those staying local, state parks in Texas reported high reservations and were preparing various events, including stargazing parties. Meanwhile, Orlando remained the top domestic travel destination, buoyed by its theme parks and nearby cruise port. Universal’s Epic Universe theme park in Orlando opened just in time for the holiday, likely adding to the city’s allure.
Travel economist Hayley Berg from Hopper suggested that long weekends provide ample opportunities for short flights to vibrant cityscapes. Popular searches for the weekend included iconic cities like New York, Miami, and Las Vegas.