Travelers face higher gas prices at the pump this Memorial Day weekend, with the highest prices since the summer of 2022.
WASHINGTON — About 45 million Americans are expected to travel over Memorial Day this year, despite higher gas prices at the pump, according to the American Automobile Association.
The organization’s travel forecast shows a subtle uptick in domestic travel this year, which could set a new Memorial Day weekend record with 39.1 million people traveling by car and 3.66 million expected to travel by plane.
Americans are likely to travel at least 50 miles from home between May 21 and May 25.
“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans, it’s a three-day weekend,” Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel, said in a news release. “Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks.”
Last Memorial Day, the national average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.17. On Monday, the national average in the U.S. was $4.52.
AAA’s travel report says 87% of travelers will opt for traveling by car.
Here are the top 10 Memorial Day weekend destinations, according to AAA.
Domestic:
- Orlando, Florida,
- Seattle, Washington
- New York, New York
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Miami, Florida
- San Francisco, California
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Chicago, Illinois
- Denver, Colorado
- Boston, Massachusetts
International:
- Rome, Italy
- Vancouver, Canada
- Paris, France
- London, England
- Athens, Greece
- Dublin, Ireland
- Barcelona, Spain
- Southampton, England
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Edinburgh, Scotland
Which states have the most expensive gas?
California leads the country with the most expensive gas, according to AAA, where the average price for a gallon of regular fuel was $6.158 on Monday. Mono County, in rural California, has average gas prices of more than $7.
Just behind California were the rest of the Pacific Coast states, Washington ($5.762), Hawaii ($5.650), Oregon ($5.320) and Alaska ($5.264).