Over 1.1 million Michigan residents will travel for the unofficial start of summer
DEARBORN, Mich., (May 17, 2022) — Memorial Day weekend is expected to be the busiest in three years, building on a travel resurgence that began earlier this spring. This year’s forecast marks the second highest single-year increase in travelers since 2010 (2021 was the highest), bringing volumes almost in line with pre-pandemic levels.
“By the looks of this Memorial Day travel forecast, the summer travel season is off to a sizzlin’ start,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “People are more comfortable traveling now than any other time in the past two years, and travel bookings are a reflection of that. Reservations for flights, hotels, and cruises for Memorial Day weekend are twice as strong as last year’s holiday and that momentum will likely carry into the summer.”
AAA predicts over 1.1 million Michiganders will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend. That’s an 7.9% increase over 2021, bringing travel volumes almost in line with those from 2015.
Nationally, it’s a similar story. More than 39.2 million Americans will travel for the holiday weekend. The 8.3% increase from 2021 puts travel volumes in line with 2017 figures.
92% of Travelers will Drive, Despite Record-High Gas Prices
Despite historically high gas prices, 92% of Memorial Day travelers plan to travel by car. Over 1 million Michiganders are forecast to take a holiday road trip. That’s 4.8% more than last year’s holiday weekend.
Gas prices for Memorial Day are likely to be the highest on record. A combination of tightening global supplies and strong demand are the main culprits behind this unprecedented pain at the pump.
As of press time, the average price for gasoline in Michigan is $4.39 per gallon. Previously, Memorial Day travelers found pump price averages of $3.05 in 2021, $2.88 in 2019, and $3.10 in 2018. The highest average price recorded on Memorial Day was $4.11 per gallon in 2008.
“Coming out of this 2-year pandemic, Michigan residents are eager to travel again, and it doesn’t seem like record high gas prices or other inflationary pressures will stop them,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Many may look at cost cutting measures to offset the added expense, like driving shorter distances, staying in a less expensive hotel, or spending less on shopping, dining and entertainment.”
Based on AAA booking data, Thursday is shaping up to be the busiest day for air travel during the Memorial Day travel period (May 26 – May 30) with Monday being the lightest.
For those hitting the road, Thursday and Friday are anticipated to be peak traffic days.
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