(Fargo, North Dakota) AAA expects a significant rebound in the number of Americans planning to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend. More than 37 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more between May 27 and May 31. That’s a 60-percent increase from last year, when only 23 million traveled, the lowest on record since AAA began recording in 2000.
In the West North Central Region, including Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, nearly 3 million people are forecast to travel over the weekend. That’s a 56-percent increase from last year when just 1.9 million from the region traveled due to the pandemic. In 2019, a record of more than 3.6 million from the region took a trip during the holiday.
Officials with AAA note many theme parks and hotels are running at reduced capacity, and some services are not currently available. Cruise lines are also accepting bookings, but their policies may vary based on whether you’re vaccinated. Travelers are encouraged to plan and work with a trusted travel advisor to ensure they get the best advice and value for their vacation.
