Five
Walnut Creek – The summer travel season begins with Memorial Day weekend, the busiest since AAA began tracking travel data in 2000.
Nationwide, more than 43.8 million Americans are expected to travel over Memorial Day weekend. This number is 4 percent higher than last year and nearly matches the 2005 record of 44 million travelers on Memorial Day.
AAA predicts a record 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, an increase of 4% from last year. In addition, AAA expects 3.51 million air travelers this holiday weekend, an increase of nearly 5 percent from last year, making it the airport's busiest Memorial Day weekend since 2005.
“We expect Memorial Day weekend numbers to be unlike anything we've seen in about 20 years,” said Brian Ng, senior vice president of membership and travel marketing for AAA Northern California. says. “This is not only a return to pre-pandemic levels, but also portends a strong summer travel season ahead.”
California trip sets record
California is expected to receive a record 5.65 million tourists in 2023, compared to 5.4 million the year before. Californians clearly prefer traveling by car, with 82% of them traveling by car while on vacation. About 11 percent fly, and 7 percent choose other modes of transportation, such as cruises, buses, and trains.
Popular destinations and travel tips
Memorial Day travelers flock to theme parks and entertainment venues in Orlando, New York, Las Vegas and Southern California. Alaska cruises are popular this time of year, so Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver top the list.
Whether you plan to drive or fly, knowing how to get around can help you avoid unnecessary stress and challenges.
- actively. Gas prices in California will be 9% higher in May 2023. Use the AAA mobile app to find cheaper gas, plan your trip, request roadside assistance, and more.
- be patient. Thursday May 23 and Friday May 24 are expected to be the busiest days for road travel. If possible, start your trip before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m. For domestic air travel, AAA recommends arriving at the airport two hours before departure. Airport parking lots fill up quickly. Reserve your spot online in advance.
- Get ready. AAA estimates there will be approximately 380,000 roadside assistance calls nationwide this weekend. A pre-trip inspection at a AAA Auto Repair Center can help prevent common breakdowns.
About AAA Northern California
AAA has a proud history of serving its members for more than 100 years. AAA's mission is to unleash the innovative spirit of her 5,300 employees representing 6 million members in Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska to create lifetime memberships. I am in charge. In addition to our legendary roadside assistance, AAA offers home, auto, life insurance, travel and home security services. For more information, please visit AAA.com.
