Memorial Day Travel Increases Begin Thursday
Thousands of our neighbors and friends will be traveling over the Memorial Day weekend. AAA predicts nearly 130,000 Delawareans will travel 50 miles or more from Thursday through Monday for the unofficial start of the summer season. This is a 0.3% increase over 2025 – and a projected record breaker!
There are some road closures in Sussex County and plenty of roadwork – that will be on pause beginning on Friday.
Try to travel at non-peak times to miss some of the travel congestion – especially if you’re traveling over the Bay Bridge, Routes 50, 1, 113, 13 and 404 heading to the beach areas.
Additional information from AAA:
Air travel is predicted to decrease slightly (1.1%) over 2025, with nearly 12,000 Delawareans expected to fly to their destinations this year. Travel by other modes of transportation (train, bus, cruise) is predicted to see nearly 3,200 Philadelphia-area residents, up 4.0% from last year.
This year’s Delaware Memorial Day weekend travel forecast is in line with last year’s local travel volume, as many prioritize travel despite increased fuel prices.
“Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and for most Americans it’s a three-day weekend,” says Jana Tidwell, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Club Alliance. “However, continued economic uncertainties and concerns over rising prices have led to the smallest year over year travel growth rate we’ve seen in more than a decade, outside of the COVID impacts in 2020.”
Nationally, AAA projects 39.1 million people will hit the road over Memorial Day weekend, about the same as last year. This holiday weekend, drivers are paying much more at the pump compared to last year when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.17. Currently, pump prices are the highest they’ve been since 2022. Driving is still the most popular way to travel and makes up 87% of the share of Memorial Day travelers.
With more vehicles on the road this holiday weekend, AAA reminds drivers to put safety first, Slow Down, Move Over, and drive sober. Before hitting the road, check your car’s battery, tire pressure, and fluids. Last Memorial Day weekend, AAA responded to more than 350,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.
For travelers who are renting cars over Memorial Day weekend, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Thursday and Friday are expected to be the busiest pick-up days. The top 5 markets with the highest demand are Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver, and Boston. According to AAA booking data, domestic car rentals are 1% cheaper this holiday weekend compared to last year.
AAA’s Ways to Save When Traveling
With gas prices about $1.50 per gallon higher than last Memorial Day weekend, drivers are looking to save at the pump.
- Start by peeking at current prices on the AAA fuel site and use the AAA gas cost calculator to get an idea of how much your road trip will cost.
- Once you hit the road, keep in mind the gas stations right off the interstate are usually the most expensive. If you’re looking to save money, drive a little bit farther down the road for cheaper gas. AAA members receive stackable discounts on gas through the Fuel Rewards® program at participating Shell stations.
- After you fill up, avoid speeding. Fuel economy peaks around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. Reducing highway speeds by 5 to 10 mph can increase fuel economy by as much as 14%.
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects the afternoons over Memorial Day weekend to be the most congested. Travelers should hit the road during the morning hours.
