Here's how many people are expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend

Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer is fast approaching and with it masses of people are expected to travel to visit family or vacation destinations both domestic and international.

AAA Travel is estimating upward of 43.8 million people will travel for the Memorial Day weekend. This is by vehicle, plane or other forms of travel including buses, trains and cruises, and nearly breaks the estimated 44 million people who traveled for Memorial Day weekend in 2005. The estimated total is a 4% increase from 2023.

For those traveling by plane, American Airlines is set to have 35 flights at Columbia Regional Airport May 23-28, the Memorial Day weekend period, wrote Caroline Barksdale, American Airlines corporate communications. Flights from Columbia either go to Chicago or Dallas/Ft. Worth. While American Airlines and Columbia Regional Airport were unable to provide passenger load data for just the Memorial Day weekend, roughly 16,700 traveled to and from Columbia via the airport in May 2023, a 1.8% increase from 2022.

American Airlines is estimating to conduct 36,000 Memorial Day weekend flights in total, providing travel for nearly 3.9 million customers. The busiest travel day American is anticipating, though, is July 7 when it has 6,540 flights scheduled. American has added 10 new destinations to its roster and also expects a 10% increase in departures, per a provided fact sheet.

For those traveling with American, the airline recommends downloading its mobile application, joining AAdvantage and arriving at airports two hours prior to a domestic departure time and three hours before an international flight. Columbia Regional Airport Manager Mike Parks also recommended passengers be aware of local weather and destination weather for any air travel impacts.

Nationwide, the majority of people will travel by automobile at 38.4 million, says AAA Travel, which marks the Memorial Day weekend travel period from May 23-27.

"We haven’t seen Memorial Day weekend travel numbers like these in almost 20 years," said Paula Twidale, AAA Travel senior vice president, in a news release. "We’re projecting an additional one million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we’re exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals a very busy summer travel season ahead."

When people will travel

AAA Travel works with S&P Global Market Intelligence for its travel projections and DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/Monitor on historic travel data gathering. AAA prepared its travel projection April 15, releasing results the week of May 5.

In the west north central region, which includes Missouri, AAA Travel expects 3.1 million will travel by automobile, 154,000 by air, and 338,000 by other forms of travel of buses, trains or cruises. Drilling down further, roughly 779,000 Missourians are expected to travel by automobile, 37,800 by air and 84,000 by other travel forms. While this is roughly 4-7% increase in the various modes of travel from last year in Missouri, travel projections match or are slightly less than pre-COVID-19 pandemic Memorial Day travel from 2019.

Using travel insight data from INRIX, AAA Travel projects the worst and best travel times by automobile across the Memorial Day Weekend are:

• May 23: worst noon-6 p.m., best before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m.;

• May 24: worst noon-7 p.m., best before 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m.;

• May 25: worst 2-5 p.m., best before 1 p.m. or after 6 p.m.;

• May 26: worst 3-7 p.m., best before 1 p.m.; and

• May 27: worst 3-7 p.m., best after 7 p.m.

For those pit stops on the way, USA Today notes these Reader's Choice awards for road trips. The Columbia Tribune is part of the USA Today Network.

For gas stations:

1. Kwik Trip

2. Hy-Vee

3. Casey's

4. Royal Farms

5. RaceTrac

6. Maverik

7. Rutter's

8. TravelCenters of America

9. QuikTrip

10. Buc-ee's

For gas station snacks:

1. Royal Farms

2. Casey's

3. Kwik Trip

4. Rutter's

5. TravelCenters of America

6. Maverik

7. QuickChek

8. Weigel's

9. QuikTrip

10. Buc-ee's

Planning to rent a car? Go with these award winners:

1. Enterprise Rent-A-Car

2. Hertz

3. Avis

4. Budget

5. National Car Rental

6. Alamo Rent A Car

7. Dollar

8. SIXT

9. ACE Rent A Car

10. Thrifty

Why people are traveling

Travelers are are seeking theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas, and Southern California, says AAA Travel. Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver also rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Florida beaches and cruise ports will also be packed. Cities in Europe, such as Rome, London and Paris, dominate the top international Memorial Day travel destination.

There are many reasons why people may travel for the Memorial Day weekend, including checking off a bucket-list item or marking milestones. AAA Travel is noting an increase in trips to Asia, particularly Japan. AAA Travel notes 51% of travel agents say more travelers are interested in travel insurance; oceanic cruise interest is up 77%, while river cruise interest is up 67%; and 70% of travelers are looking for all-inclusive vacations.

For other pit stops along the journey top USA Today Reader's Choice roadside attractions include:

• Lucy the Elephant (Margate City, New Jersey)

• Shealy's Official Skunk Ape Headquarters (Ochopee, Florida)

• World's Largest Ball of Twine (Cawker City, Kansas)

• Carhenge (Alliance, Nebraska)

• Dalmatian Fire Hydrant (Beaumont, Texas)

• Paul A. Johnson Pencil Sharpener Museum (Logan, Ohio)

• Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox (Bemidji, Minnesota)

• Wheat Jesus (Colby, Kansas)

• Wall Drug Store Inc. (Wall, South Dakota)

• Bonnie and Clyde Ambush Museum (Gibsland, Louisiana)

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: AAA predicts Memorial Day travel could nearly match 2005 record