Record-breaking number of Texans to travel for Memorial Day weekend, AAA says
A record number of Texans are expected to travel over the Memorial Day holiday period, according to AAA Texas.
Over 3.7 million are planning to hit the road, skies and lakes between May 22 and May 26, a 3% increase from last year. It's the third straight year of record-breaking travel in Texas.
Most travelers, 3.2 million to be exact, are likely to hit the road. Just over 300,000 are likely to fly and 160,000 will travel by train or other form of transportation.
Across the U.S., AAA said it projects 45.1 million Americans will travel during the same period. It's a 3.1% increase from last year and sets a new national record for Memorial Day travel, beating the previous record of 44 million set in 2005.
The busiest time to travel will be when many are kicking off the long weekend – Thursday, May 22 and Friday, May 23, AAA said. In Texas, the busiest roadway is expected to be I-45 South, from Houston to Galveston on Sunday, May 25.
The best time to travel if you're taking to the road is Thursday, May 22, before 12 p.m.; Friday, May 23, before 11 a.m.; Saturday, May 24, before 12 p.m.; Sunday, May 25, before 1 p.m.; and Monday, May 26, before 2 p.m.
"Texans continue to prioritize travel with family and friends after the pandemic," said Galen Grillo, AAA Texas vice president and general manager. "This year, consumers will get some price relief at the gas pump, car rental counter, and when flying internationally, but they will spend more on domestic flights, hotels, cruises and tours compared to 2024."
Travelers could spend less this Memorial Day weekend
In Texas, gas prices are about 50 cents less than the same time last year. The same goes for gas prices across the U.S.
Gas isn't the only thing travelers are spending less on. Car rentals, international cruises and international airfare are also costing less, according to AAA.
Meanwhile, travelers are spending more on domestic airfare, domestic cruises, domestic hotels, international hotels, and domestic and international tours.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PGA Tour Reacts to Tommy Fleetwood's Performance at Travelers Championship
PGA Tour Reacts to Tommy Fleetwood's Performance at Travelers Championship originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Travelers Championship is heating up in Connecticut, and England's Tommy Fleetwood is leading the charge. After a sensational third-round 63, Fleetwood heads into Sunday with a three-shot lead at 16-under-par. The 34-year-old has never won a PGA Tour title, but his flawless round on Saturday, including an eagle on the 13th and a birdie on the 15th, has placed him on the brink of history. Advertisement The PGA Tour didn't hold back in celebrating his performance, spotlighting his bogey-free round and red-hot form. They described him as the "solo leader" and praised his quest for that long-awaited first PGA Tour win with a simple yet powerful message: 'Tommy Fleetwood hit EVERY fairway en route to a 3-shot lead.' Tommy Fleetwood reacts to his birdie on the 15th hole during the third round of the Travelers Championship golf Streicher-Imagn Images Fleetwood has 41 top-10 finishes without a victory, more than any other active player. But he seems to be embracing the moment. 'I would love to win on the PGA Tour,' he admitted per Outlook. 'It's just an amazing opportunity for me to go out and enjoy it, and hopefully it's our time.' Close behind him are Russell Henley and Keegan Bradley, both sitting at 13-under. Henley shot an electrifying 61, while Bradley, a fan favorite and former Travelers champ, carded a 63. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who started Saturday tied with Fleetwood and Justin Thomas, stumbled early with a rare triple bogey on the first hole, eventually shooting a 72. He now trails by nine shots, tied for eighth. Advertisement After missing the cut at the U.S. Open last week, Fleetwood's bounce-back this week has been impressive. With one round left, all eyes are on Fleetwood. If he holds on, it would mark a long-awaited and emotional first PGA Tour victory. Related: PGA Tour Sends Personal Message to Scottie Scheffler on Saturday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Is Using Tech To Make Your Own Sparkling Water Worthwhile?
This portable system makes instant sparkling water Americans apparently love effervescence. According to Google's Gemini, the global sparkling water market was valued at about $42.62 billion last year. And it's projected to grow significantly, with estimates maxing it out at $108 billion by 2032. That's a lot of burps. So it shouldn't shock you that companies are flocking to get in on a piece of and Kirkland flavored sparkling water are mainstays in our home. The labeling implies there's no sugar – just essentially water and CO2. So it's way better for you than carbonated soda. And to me, it's so much tastier than plain drinking water, with all the used to have a Sodastream unit, in which we made our own seltzer water by carbonating ordinary tap water and adding flavor syrup. Somewhere along the way, it broke or stopped working. So we just went back to buying cans of the good stuff. Of course, this habit can get a little pricey. But more than anything, I really just don't like carrying the heavy cases of it in from the car, once we get home from I heard about Aerflo, which brings portability to the category. It's a single drinking water bottle in which the top holds a refillable CO2 canister -- making it a portable, zero-waste carbonation system. It's kind of an online sensation, I noticed, with reviewers posting how-to videos and hundreds of people joining in on the for $74, the system includes the portable carbonator, a reusable bottle, and a set of refillable CO₂ capsules that each make up to four bottles of sparkling water. It's compact enough to fit in your front-seat cup holder; is free of PFAS, BPA and microplastics; and is backed by a circular exchange model. Just drop used capsules in the mail using the prepaid return box, and Aerflo refills and recirculates them from its New Jersey facility. The company claims it's ideal for those who care about sustainability, simplicity and well-made gear. And it of course eliminates the need for counter-top appliances that carbonate two weeks, I've been trying Aerflo – along with friends and family. It's easy to use: You place the small CO2 canister in the lid, fill the water bottle, tighten the lid, press the lid in the marked spot three times or so, shake the container, and then repeat the last two steps three times. When the water has carbonated enough, it lets out a noise of air escaping. Then you remove the lid and drink. The entire process takes maybe 30 my brief experience, it works fine but the water does not get as carbonated as a can of Lacroix – no matter how much I've tried carbonating and even over-carbonating. Yet it generates a pleasing amount of bubbles that does the job. The company asks you not add syrup or flavoring, but you can just pour the water into a separate glass with syrup if you want. I added a lime wedge to the Aerflo bottle, and that worked fine. Also, I was only able to get two glasses of carbonation out of any canister – even once I started pressing the lid the minimum amount of times per glass. So I'm not sure how much savings it's truly offering over just buying cans of sparkling water. But it's definitely better for the environment than throwing out can after an industry clearly growing exponentially, it's good that there are options. I expect there will be more products like this emerging as time goes on. And that makes me feel bubbly.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
What Every Business Can Learn From American Airlines' New Customer Experience Board
In today's competitive market, loyalty comes from consistently delivering a positive, predictable ... More experience, especially in the airline industry. Great brands don't just react to customer expectations. They anticipate them. In today's competitive landscape, companies that win loyalty are the ones that consistently deliver a predictable positive experience. That's especially true in the airline industry, where every touchpoint, from booking a trip to baggage claim, can shape how passengers feel. That's why American Airlines' latest move to elevate the customer/passenger experience is such an important endeavor. American Airlines recently announced the formation of its Customer Experience Advisory Board, led by AA's chief customer officer, Heather Garboden. CX is now in the C-suite, with a new board that includes leaders from prominent brands such as Disney, Four Seasons, Marriott, Walmart and others. These are brands that have a reputation for knowing how to design and meet customer expectations. Bringing in CX perspectives from other brands outside the airline industry is a smart and progressive move by American. When companies look outside their industry to learn how to create the best customer experience, they are moving from a goal of being best-in-class to achieving world-class status. I've been a member of the AA frequent flier and loyalty programs since the 1980s and currently hold its highest-tier recognition for top customers. Having flown millions of miles to destinations throughout the world to speak at business conferences gives me firsthand experience of the good, the bad and the ugly of airline travel (all airlines). Many factors affect air travel, and some issues are outside the airline's control. But, that doesn't mean they can't take action to mitigate any damage to their relationship with a passenger. These efforts can allow the airline to shine. And then there are the on-ground and in-flight experiences. Everything from making a reservation, checking in for the flight, checking bags, boarding, being taken care of on the flight, retrieving luggage and any other 'touch point' is an opportunity to prove the passenger made the right choice. This is where an advisory board made up of experts outside the airline industry, such as the team American Airlines has assembled, can identify ways to enhance the traditional experience that the airline may not have considered. 'We want to do right by our customers and a critical piece of that requires gathering as much data and insights as possible—from those who fly with us, those who don't and those who have spent their lives honing their expertise in the field of customer experience,' said Garboden. 'We've already learned so much from our new board members and are eager to put some of their suggestions and best practices into place, understanding that the needs of our customers are at the center of everything we do as an airline.' Why This Matters (Even if You're Not in the Airline Industry) Customer service is not a department. CX is more than an initiative. It must be baked into the culture of a company, from the front line to the C-suite, and into the digital tools customers and employees use. What American Airlines is doing by forming this board is what every customer-centric organization should be doing: The airline industry is complex. Safety is the highest priority. On-time performance creates confidence, and a lack of it destroys confidence. The way employees treat passengers either bonds them to the airline or gives them a reason to try the competition on their next trip. It takes a combination of operational excellence and first-class service/experience to drive repeat business. What I Hope the Board Considers Based on my experiences working with hundreds of companies across different industries, I hope the CX advisory board focuses on at least three areas: Final Thoughts I've flown American Airlines for decades, and selfishly, I want the best experience possible. It's easy to create a great experience when things go well. But sometimes, the best experiences happen when things aren't going so well. In other words: The American Airlines Customer Experience Advisory Board will help identify areas for improvement. This is a bold step that will elevate their customer experience. From the moment a customer decides to take a trip on American Airlines until they pick up their luggage at the baggage carousel, the goal is to create an experience that gets customers to say, 'I'll be back!'
