The traditional kick off to summer travel season starts with a record breaking number of people expected to travel for Memorial Day this year, according to newly released AAA data.

AAA projects about 45.1 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home beginning Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26.

This represents an increase of 1.4 million travelers compared to last year, surpassing the previous record set in 2005 with 44 million people. More than 5.8 million of those travelers will be from California, marking a 4 percent increase over 2024 and setting a new record for the state.

Travelers are choosing to vacation in the Bay Area this year with AAA booking data listing San Francisco in the top 10 for Memorial Day destinations.

Many Americans say they’re taking advantage of the long weekend to spend time with loved ones, even if they are staying closer to home amid concerns over travel costs.

Memorial Day travelers by mode of transportation

By car: Driving is the preferred mode of transportation during holiday travel periods with 87% of Memorial Day travelers choosing to take road trips. AAA projects 39.4 million people will travel by car nationwide over Memorial Day weekend with more than 4.8 million being from California. This year, drivers have the benefit of cheaper gas prices thanks to lower crude oil prices.

By air: AAA projects 3.61 million air passengers, a nearly 2% increase over last year when 3.55 million travelers took to the skies. Of those, about 622,000 will be Californians. AAA booking data shows the cost for domestic flights are up 2% compared to last year.

By other modes: AAA projects 2.08 million people will travel by train, bus, or cruise nationwide over Memorial Day weekend, an 8.5% increase over last year. About 424,000 travelers will be Californians. Travelers are turning to cruises in record numbers. AAA projects a record 19 million people plan to take cruises in 2025.