The Memorial Day holiday weekend is a time to honor and remember those who sacrificed for our country. For many of us, it’s also a time for gathering with friends and family. Travel is often a big part of the weekend, whether it’s driving an hour or two to visit friends or flying across the country to see family.
Despite continued concerns about the economy, the 2025 holiday weekend is predicted to be especially busy for travelers. AAA predicts that 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between Thursday-Monday. That’s an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to 2024, and it sets a new record for Memorial Day weekend travel. The previous record of 44 million people traveling was set in 2005.
Do you have travel plans for this holiday weekend? Let me know in the comments!
🚗 How People are Traveling
Driving is the most common method of transportation during holiday travel periods, with approximately 87% of travelers taking road trips. Lower gas prices will contribute to a 3% increase in travelers this year, with an estimated 39.4 million people on the road.
Airports will be busy, also, though this year’s Memorial Day holiday weekend isn’t expected to set an air travel record. AAA projects 3.61 million air passengers, which is a 2% increase over last year and a 12% increase over pre-pandemic numbers.
Aside from driving or flying, AAA projects another 2 million people will travel by train, bus or cruise over the 2025 Memorial Day holiday weekend. That’s an 8.5% increase over last year and is higher than before the pandemic, but it doesn’t reach the record numbers of the early 2000s.
💲 Saving Money on Road Trips
If you’re part of the nearly 40 million people planning to travel by car this Memorial Day holiday weekend, here are some tips to help save money!
Plan your trip- and your budget- in advance. If you’re driving a long distance, do some research about the best places to stop, especially if you’ll need to spend the night. Use travel review websites to find hotels and activities, along with tips from fellow travelers.
Make sure your vehicle is ready for the drive, whether you’re making a quick trip or planning to spend hours on the road. Get your car checked out for any preventive maintenance needs, such as an oil change or tire rotation. Check the fluid levels, tire pressure, and brakes. Unexpected breakdowns not only add extra cost to your trip, but they take away time from things you’d rather be doing!
Once you’re on the road, make sure your tires are fully inflated and use your cruise control to get better gas mileage. Avoiding rush hour as you travel through big cities will not only save gas, but also time and patience.
Food expenses can add up quickly while traveling, especially if you grab snacks at the gas station or go through fast-food restaurant drive-thrus. Packing a cooler with drinks, snacks, and sandwiches can save a lot of money while you’re on the road. If you’re staying in a hotel while traveling, find one with a refrigerator and microwave in the room so you can easily eat leftovers from a restaurant or store basic groceries.
What tips do you have for saving money while traveling? Leave a comment and help out your fellow travelers!
☝️ Panel Member Reminders
Panel members, don’t forget to submit your shopping trips during the long Memorial Day holiday weekend. Travel and holidays often disrupt our routines and you may be shopping more (or less!) than usual. Whether you’re road-tripping to visit family or hosting friends in your backyard, remember to scan any purchases you make this weekend.
If you need a refresher on how to report gasoline purchases, check out our recent blog about convenience stores.
And if you’re not a NCP panel member and you’re interested in joining NCP to share your shopping experiences, earn great rewards, and influence what you see on store shelves, click here or go to the Join NCP section of the blog for more information.
I hope you enjoy this holiday weekend as we honor and remember those who served our country.
Regards,
Taylor
Blog comment reminder: If you have a panel-related issue that you need assistance with such as a problem with scanning or your rewards, please contact our Panel Support Center directly and they will be happy to assist you! You can reach them at 1-800-962-6700 or email them at [email protected]. You can send a message from NCP’s Facebook page. Please don’t enter panel-related issues or share any personal panel membership information in the blog comment section. Any issues will be addressed faster if you contact our support center directly. Thank you so much!
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