AAA: What Texans can expect for Memorial Day travel

TYLER, Texas (KETK) — Memorial Day weekend 2025 is projected to see 3.7 million Texans travel from May 22-26; here are the changes AAA expects to see regarding gas prices, travel costs and traffic.
LIST: Memorial Day events in East Texas
Memorial Day is a sacred holiday that is dedicated to honoring the men and women who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. Many Texans will honor their fallen service members by enjoying a day off from work at the beach, local park or just having a classic cookout in the backyard.
No matter how Texans choose to celebrate, chances are they will be doing some traveling beforehand. This year is going to see some travel cost fluctuation with an 8% decrease in car rental prices and a 2% increase in airfare charges.
Tyler residents have noticed an increase in gas prices over the last week, averaging around $2.64 a gallon, but this is actually cheaper than last year's Memorial Day prices, according to AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster.
'Prices are about 35 cents cheaper on average per gallon in East Texas going into this Memorial Day,' Armbruster said.
SFA forced to cut several athletic programs due to ongoing budget concerns
Even though over 300,000 Texans will travel through the air and 160,000 will move by train, bus or cruise, 3.2 million drivers will still be on the road this weekend. For those traveling through popular East Texas adjacent areas such as Houston, Austin or San Antonio, Armbruster recommends leaving earlier than everyone else.
'Your afternoon and evenings, especially around major metropolitan areas are going to be busier, the best time to leave is going to be in the morning, likely before noon,' Armbruster said.'
Read this other article to learn more about how to be prepared for unexpected car trouble this weekend. .
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