AAA predicts Floridians will break travel records this Memorial Day weekend

Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record
·2 min read
Vehicles wait at the traffic light on the west side of the Bridge of Lions.
Vehicles wait at the traffic light on the west side of the Bridge of Lions.

The Auto Club of America (AAA) predicts Floridians will break travel records this Memorial Day weekend. According to a recent news release, 2.5 million Sunshine State residents will travel 50+ miles with nearly 44 million travelling nationally, the highest number of travelers recorded in the last 20 years.

Debbie Haas, an AAA vice president, described the upcoming summer as busy.

“American travelers are forecast to surpass pre-pandemic levels, making this the busiest Memorial Day holiday weekend in nearly two decades,” she said in a press release.

AAA is expecting 38.4 million Americans to drive to their destinations, the highest automobile travel volume since AAA began tracking in 2000.

“Traveling by car is appealing because of the convenience and flexibility it provides,” said Mark Jenkins, AAA’s spokesman. “However, that holiday road trip may cost more at the gas pump this year."

During last year’s holiday weekend, Florida gas prices averaged $3.41 per gallon.

Jenkins underscored that volatility at the pump will continue as the summer driving season ramps up.

"The wildcard remains the cost of oil,” he continued. “And unlike last year, there are now two wars – in the Middle East and Ukraine – which have the ability to roil the oil market at any time.”

AAA expects 3.51 million Americans to travel by air for Memorial Day, according to the news release. Airfares are more expensive this year than last. Expense factors include destinations, number of stops and fare class.

Nearly 2 million people are forecasted to board buses, trains and cruises. Haas noted that these three modes of travel were hit hardest during COVID-19.

“Leading the charge is ocean and river cruising, which continues to gain popularity,” she said. “With ships of all sizes being introduced, there is something new and exciting to explore for both first time and repeat cruise enthusiasts.”

Domestic hotel bookings through AAA are also 5 percent cheaper this Memorial Day weekend as compared to last year.

Domestic car rentals are 17% cheaper this year as compared to last year as well. Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Boston and Las Vegas are the cities with the highest rental demands with the busiest dates noted for Thursday and Friday, May 23-24.

INRIX, a data collecting tool, suggests drivers should leave early on Thursday and/or Friday to avoid commuters. Return travelers should avoid the afternoon peak hours on Sunday and Monday.

“Travel times are expected to be up to 90% longer than normal,” said Bob Pishue, INRIX Travelers’ transportation analyst.

Pishue encourages travelers to remain updated through traffic apps, 511 services, and local news stations.

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Gas prices rise for Memorial Day weekend as 2.5 million Floridians travel