BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) — AAA is forecasting a busy Memorial Day travel period both across the country and throughout the Mountain State, marking a strong start to the 2025 summer travel season.
According to AAA, 215,937 West Virginians are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home between May 22 and May 26, a 3.2% increase from 2024. The vast majority — 89%, or 192,928 travelers — will be hitting the road, also up 3.2% from last year.
Nationwide, 45.1 million Americans are projected to travel during the holiday, up 3.1% from 2024 and 5.4% from pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Despite the surge, this year represents the slowest year-over-year growth in nearly a decade, outside of the COVID-19-affected year of 2020.
By the Numbers: Travel Trends for Memorial Day 2025
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39.4 million travelers nationwide will drive to their destinations — 1.2 million more than last year, though still reflecting the smallest growth rate in years.
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19,470 West Virginians are expected to fly this Memorial Day, a 2.7% increase, while national air travel is projected to rise 1.8% overall.
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5,310 West Virginians are expected to travel via bus, cruise, or train — a 7.1% jump from 2024, in line with the national growth of 8.5% for alternative transportation.
Gas Prices and Travel Costs
West Virginia ranks 21st in the nation for lowest average gas prices, with regular unleaded averaging $2.98 per gallonas of May 21 — 52 cents less than one year ago. The national average stands at $3.18, more than 40 cents cheaper than last year.
Other price-related stats:
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Domestic hotel prices are up 8% compared to last Memorial Day.
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The average roundtrip domestic flight costs $850, a 2% increase.
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Cruises departing from U.S. ports this weekend average $2,065, also up 2%.
Top Travel Destinations
According to AAA Travel bookings, the most popular domestic Memorial Day destinations include:
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Orlando, FL
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Seattle, WA
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New York, NY
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Las Vegas, NV
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Miami, FL
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San Francisco, CA
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Anchorage, AK
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Chicago, IL
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Denver, CO
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Boston, MA
Top international destinations include:
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Rome, Italy
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Vancouver, Canada
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Paris, France
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London, England
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Athens, Greece
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Dublin, Ireland
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Barcelona, Spain
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Southampton, England
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Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Edinburgh, Scotland
Road Safety and Resources
AAA urges motorists to prepare their vehicles ahead of the holiday rush. The top three reasons for roadside assistance calls include:
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Vehicle breakdowns or overheating
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Dead batteries
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Tire problems
Before hitting the road, travelers are encouraged to check WV511.org for traffic alerts, construction updates, and road conditions. AAA also recommends downloading the AAA Mobile App for access to gas price locators, roadside assistance, travel discounts, and more.
As Memorial Day approaches, AAA reminds drivers to plan ahead, stay safe, and enjoy the start of the summer travel season.
