Memorial Day 2024 is expected to be the second busiest on record. AAA projects 43.8 million Americans (13% of the population) will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend. This is an increase of 4% over 2023 and comes close to matching the record of 44 million travelers in 2005.
In the Pacific Region, Region (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA), 7.5 million people (14.2% of the population) are expected to travel, a 4.7% increase compared to 2023.
About 600,000 Oregonians will travel over the long weekend. The Memorial Day travel period is defined as Thursday, May 23 through Monday, May 27.
“2024 will see the most travelers for Memorial Day in nearly 20 years and will exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2019. In all, nearly two million more people will travel for the unofficial start of summer compared to last year, a sign of a very busy travel season ahead,” says Doreen Loofburrow, Senior Vice President of Travel at AAA Oregon/Idaho.
“This Memorial Day will set records. Road trips will see the highest number ever for the holiday and air travel will rise to the highest volume since 2005,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Top Memorial Day Destinations
AAA booking data reveals that theme parks, beaches and larger cities are the most popular destinations domestically and abroad, based on searches and bookings by members of AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Anaheim and Orlando are top domestic destinations as Memorial Day travelers head to theme parks. Seattle, Anchorage, and Vancouver, B.C. rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Beaches and cruise ports will also be packed. European cities dominate the list of international destinations.
AAA offers an entire library of digital resources to make your trip more enjoyable and it’s all available in one convenient spot at AAA.com/TripCanvas. If you are looking for maps or our Digital TourBooks, visit AAA.com/maps. You can download entire books or print the pages you’d like to bring with you. The TripTik Travel Planner provides turn-by-turn directions to keep you on the best route. With the AAA mobile app, you can request emergency road service, book a last-minute hotel, and even find the cheapest fuel and closest EV charging stations along the way. Download it at AAA.com/mobile or visit the App Store or Google Play.
Travel trends for Memorial Day and the rest of summer
As travelers make plans for Memorial Day, the summer travel season, and beyond, AAA Travel is seeing these trends:
- Bucket lists: Travelers taking once-in-a-lifetime trips
- Milestones: Families booking anniversary, retirement, and family reunion trips
- Asia: More travelers interested in visiting Asia, especially Japan
- Solo trips: More people, especially women, interested in traveling by themselves
- Luxury vacations: More travelers seeking high-end cruises and tours
- Trains: Many travelers interested in rail vacations across New England, Canada, and Europe
- Adventure in nature: Travelers booking trips to Antarctica, Africa, and South Pacific
Road trips will set record
Most Memorial Day travelers – about 88% – will take a road trip. AAA projects 38.4 million people will travel by car over Memorial Day weekend, the highest number for the holiday since AAA began tracking in 2000. The number of drivers this year is up 4% compared to last year and 1.9% higher than in 2019.
In Oregon, roughly 494,000 will drive to their Memorial Day destinations.
“Traveling by car is appealing for many because of the convenience and flexibility it provides, and it can be more cost effective than taking the entire family on flights,” says Dodds.
