This year’s Memorial Day weekend, running from May 23 to May 26, 2025, is expected to see the largest number of travelers in two decades, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
The AAA projects that more than 45 million people across the United States will travel during the holiday period. This surpasses the previous record set in 2005, when 44 million travelers were recorded.
Traffic Congestion Anticipated on Key Days
Travel data analysis firm INRIX warns that May 23 at 3 p.m., when the long weekend officially begins, will see heavy congestion. Motorists are advised to avoid traveling by car during this time if possible. Similarly, May 26, when travelers return home, is expected to experience significant traffic delays, particularly on major routes.
Orlando, Florida, and Rome, Italy, Top Destination Lists
Based on AAA’s reservation data for Memorial Day travel, Orlando, Florida, has emerged as the most popular domestic destination this year. For international trips, Rome, Italy, topped the list, reportedly due to an influx of Catholic pilgrims commemorating the election of Pope Leo XIV (Robert Francis Prevost), the first pope born in the United States.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
