‘Desperate’ to Travel, but Rising Costs Point to ‘Uneven’ Summer

Higher energy costs are weighing on Americans, but surveys and reports suggest there’s still plenty of demand for summer travel.

AAA expects record travel this Memorial Day, which typically marks the start of summer vacation. Bank of America is tracking resilient travel spending among U.S. consumers, especially those in high-income households. And travel search platforms say interest remains robust. 

Here’s a roundup of reports looking at what the travel industry could see this summer. 

AAA Projects Record Memorial Day Travel

AAA forecasts 200,000 more travelers between May 21 and 25 compared to last year, making 2026 the busiest Memorial Day on record. 

This year’s forecast expects 39.1 million people to travel by car. That’s a 0.4% increase from last year despite a roughly 40% hike in fuel prices to more than $4.50 per gallon on average. 

AAA projects another 3.66 million people will travel by air and 2.