Increase expected in Memorial Day travel in Oklahoma

  • May 20, 2025

 

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A forecast from AAA indicates nearly 3% more Oklahomans plan on traveling this coming Memorial Day holiday. At the same time, air travel will cost more than a year ago while gasoline prices are cheaper during the same time period.

AAA is projecting strong travel volume for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday – the official kickoff to summer travel season – across America and here in Oklahoma.
Here’s a quick look at some of the numbers, trends and tips from AAA:
  • 446,398 – Number of Oklahomans who will travel 50 miles or more from home for the Memorial Day holiday travel period (May 22-26), an increase of 2.8% from 2024.
    • 86.2% – Percentage of Oklahoma travelers who will drive to their Memorial Day holiday destination. The nearly 385,000 road trippers is a 2.7% increase from last year.
  • 45.1 million – Number of travelers nationwide AAA projects will travel for the Memorial Day holiday, a 3.1% increase compared to 2024 and 5.4% increase over 2019.
    • 39.4 million – Number of travelers nationwide who will drive to their Memorial Day destinations. This represents an additional 1.2 million road travelers during the holiday, compared to 2024.
  • $2.79 – Oklahoma average cost per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, as of 5/19/25, about 30 cents less than the Oklahoma average one year ago, and 38 cents less than the current national average. The Sooner State has the 7th lowest average gas price in the nation. (Source: https://gasprices.aaa.com/)
  • 8% – Increase in price of domestic hotels this Memorial Day compared to last year.
  • 1.8% – Percent increase in the number of people who will travel by air nationwide this Memorial Day holiday. Oklahoma air travel will be up 1.6%.
  • $850 – Average price for a domestic roundtrip flight for Memorial Day holiday travel, based on AAA Travel bookings. This is 2% higher than last year.
  • 2.08 million – Number of people nationwide expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. This an increase of 8.5% compared to last year.
  • $2,065 – Average cost of cruises departing from U.S. cities this Memorial Day weekend, 2% more expensive compared to the same holiday last year.
  • 2,837 – Number of AAA emergency roadside service calls in Oklahoma during Memorial Day weekend 2024

Source: AAA release

Jerry Bohnen