Memorial Day weekend is coming up and many Americans will start their summer with a weekend getaway.
Nearly 43 millions Americans are expected to travel Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA. Marking the unofficial start of summer, AAA expects this to be the second-highest travel volume on record since the company began tracking back in 2000.
Overall, an additional 1.5 million people will take on the nation's roads, rails and runways compared to last year. That's a 3.6 percent increase.
Top Memorial Day travel destinations are:
1. Orlando, Florida
2. New York, New York
3. Las Vegas, Nevada
4. Honolulu, Hawaii
5. Anaheim, California
6. Seattle, Washington
7. Phoenix, Arizona
8. Anchorage, Alaska
9. Tampa, Florida
10. San Francisco, California
Despite gas prices rising closing to $3, 88 percent of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations, the most on record. And 3.2 million people will fly to their destinations — 4.8 percent more than last year. In addition, 1.9 million passengers will take a train, bus or cruise ship, which is a 3.8 percent increase.
This increase in gas prices can be made up by lower prices on car rentals and hotels. According to AAA, car rental prices have declined 7 percent since last year. Airfare prices are remaining steady, with an average round-trip costing $171.
With car travel, you should always prepare for dead batters, flat tires and lockouts. These are the main reasons AAA expects to be called to rescue more than 353,000 motorists Memorial Day weekend. The company recommends to stay prepared with a phone charger, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first-aid kit, a basic toolkit, and drinking water and snacks for passengers.
As always, stay safe this Memorial Day and enjoy your travels.
