ORLANDO, Florida – AAA projects a record-breaking 45.1 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Memorial Day holiday travel period and that Orlando and Miami are among AAA’s survey’s top 10 destinations.
This year’s domestic travel forecast is an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year and sets a new Memorial Day weekend record. The previous record was set back in 2005 with 44 million people.
AAA says that travelers are seeking theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando and that Florida’s beaches and cruise ports will also be packed.
AAA projects 39.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend. That’s an additional one million travelers compared to last year.
Driving is the preferred mode of transportation during holiday travel periods, with 87% of Memorial Day travelers choosing to take road trips. This year, drivers have the benefit of cheaper gas prices. Last Memorial Day, the national average for a gallon of regular was $3.59.
AAA predicts a record-breaking 2.6 million Floridians will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day period. That’s an increase of nearly 95,000 compared to last year.
Orlando to Tampa via I-4 Westbound on Sunday, May 25, at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time is the worst time and place to be on the road during Memorial Day Weekend in Florida, according to AAA.
In 2025, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 26.
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died while serving. The federal holiday is observed on the last Monday of May.
The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868 to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War.
Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30th until 1971 when Congress changed the observance to the last Monday in May.
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