AAA forecasts that 45 million Americans will drive from Thursday to Monday for Memorial Day, setting a new high for the long weekend. The national average for regular unleaded gas sits at $4.56 per gallon, the steepest since summer 2022. Most travelers—87 percent—will hit the road despite the price hike today.

Traffic forecasts warn of record congestion. INRIX cites peak jams on Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and again Monday afternoon, with some routes doubling typical delays. A Boston‑to‑Hyannis trip, normally 1 hour 15 minutes, could take almost three hours, while Seattle‑bound drivers may add an extra hour to a 107‑mile haul during the busy weekend, as motorists scramble for parking and exits.

Air travel remains a minority, with only 8 percent of travelers expected to fly. Yet airports will still swell, as TSA projects over 18 million passengers and crew screened by Wednesday. Airlines predict heavier crowds than last year; American Airlines projects a record 75 million customers from May 21 to Sept. 8, while United adds three million more than last summer.

Las Vegas, New York, Seattle, and Orlando attract the most visitors, while international picks include Athens, London, Paris, Rome, and Vancouver. The surge signals sustained demand for summer travel, prompting airlines to expand routes—Delta’s largest trans‑Atlantic schedule adds Malta and Sardinia—while fuel costs and traffic bottlenecks press companies to manage capacity and pricing strategies today.