The Memorial Day weekend is here and this is the holiday where AAA predicts 45 million Americans will be traveling. The holiday travel for 2026 is projected to have the lowest year-over-year growth rate in more than a decade and it is reflected in the numbers.
It’s a slight increase from a year ago. AAA said its forecast was 0.4% more than a year ago as it expects 39.1 million to be going by car or truck while another 3.66 million were headed to the airport and taking a flight to a weekend destination.
The travel organization stated that even with higher fuel prices, remember every state in the U.S. now has an average gasoline price of more than $4 a gallon, the average airline ticket is reportedly lower than last year. However, AAA also admitted its ticket figures were based on numbers and airfares booked “before the Iran conflict” started in February.
Oklahoma travel
Another 21,000 Oklahomans will take to the air which is down 0.1% from a year ago. The number of Oklahomans going by other means of travel, cruise, train or bus) is projected to be slightly higher this year.
Memorial Day 2026 Travel Costs
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Domestic flights are 6% cheaper this Memorial Day weekend compared to last year.
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Average price for a domestic roundtrip flight is $800.
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U.S. hotels are 4% cheaper this Memorial Day weekend compared to last year.
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Car rentals are 1% cheaper this Memorial Day weekend compared to last year.
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Cruises departing from domestic cities are 14% more expensive this holiday weekend.
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Average cost for cruises departing from domestic cities is $2,750.
