Between 39.1 million and 45 million Americans are expected to travel by car for the Memorial Day weekend from May 23 to 25, 2026 [1, 3].
The surge in travel occurs as gasoline prices climb to levels not seen in several years, testing the financial resilience of holiday travelers.
Estimates on the volume of travelers vary across reports. AAA said 39.1 million people will be on the road [1], while other reports suggest the number could reach 45 million [3] or even exceed that figure [4]. This represents a significant volume of traffic across major U.S. highways and interstates.
Fuel costs have become a primary concern for those hitting the road. As of May 20, 2026, the national average gasoline price stood at $4.55 per gallon [5]. This is a sharp increase from the Memorial Day 2025 average of $3.17 per gallon [6].
These current prices are the highest recorded since the summer of 2022 [7]. Despite the cost, the desire for holiday tradition and downtime continues to motivate millions of drivers to proceed with their plans [2, 4].
Travelers are facing a combination of high demand and elevated fuel costs during one of the busiest travel windows of the year. The persistence of these travel plans suggests that the holiday's cultural importance outweighs the deterrent of higher pump prices.
“Between 39.1 million and 45 million Americans are expected to travel by car for the Memorial Day weekend”
The willingness of millions of Americans to travel despite a nearly 44% increase in gas prices compared to the previous year indicates a high level of consumer inelasticity for holiday travel. This suggests that for many households, the Memorial Day tradition is a non-negotiable expense, even when fuel costs reach multi-year highs.
