More than 37 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 4.7% increase from the 35.5 million people who traveled last year and the highest volume for the holiday in 10 years, according to a recent AAA Travel projection.
More than 88% of travelers will travel by automobile, an increase of 5.3% over last Memorial Day.
“A strong employment market and low gas prices have driven consumer confidence to new highs and boosted Americans’ disposable income,” AAA stated in its projection.
The 4.7% increase over Memorial Day 2014 is the highest forecast growth rate for any of the holidays tracked by AAA since Independence Day 2012, it said.
With the uptick in travelers, AAA said it expects to rescue nearly 350,000 motorists at the roadside this Memorial Day weekend. The travel agency cites dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts as the primary reasons for roadside assistance. In preparation for travels, AAA recommended that motorists inspect their vehicles and check their battery and tire condition before heading out on a holiday getaway.
The U.S. Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as May 21 to May 25.
