Gas Prices Are Up But Millions of Texans Are Still Traveling This Memorial Day Weekend

Can you believe the school year in Texas is almost over? With the end of school and graduations, that means we are almost to Memorial Day. This is when most people hit the road for their first vacations of the summer. This means more than 3 million Texans will be traveling Memorial Day weekend.

When Are Texas Roads Going to Be the Most Congested?

The majority of people will start hitting the highways of Texas on May 21, with most waiting until Friday, May 22, through Monday, May 25, but keep in mind you will not be the only ones traveling.

In fact, AAA Texas tells us it expects 3.7 million Texans to hit the road this Memorial Day weekend. They expect more people to travel this Memorial Day weekend than in 2025.

What Are Gas Prices Doing Heading Into Memorial Day Weekend?

Gas prices aren't holding people back, and most are hitting the road and traveling at least 50 miles to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. Over the last week, gas prices in Texas broke the $4 mark and aren't expected to drop. Prices always rise during holiday weekends due to higher demand. Keep up with gas prices here.

Read More: Texas Fuel Prices Surge to $4.09 as Summer Demand Builds

How Are Texans Getting to Their Memorial Day Destinations?

About 3.2 million Texans will be driving to their destinations over Memorial Day weekend. Nearly 310,000 will be taking to the skies and dealing with delays, airline policy changes, cancelled flights, and more. Meanwhile, 178,000 will be taking another mode of transportation to their destination.

Nationally, 45 million are expected to travel over the holiday weekend, with 39 million driving, 3.6 million flying, and 2.2 million traveling by boat, bus, or train.

Tips to Make Your Memorial Day Road Trip Smoother:

• Don't leave during peak traffic times. Leave early morning or late evening
• Fill your tank before you go, and plan where to refuel to find the lowest prices
• Check tire pressure, oil, and fluids before hitting the road
• Download offline maps in case you lose service, or go old school with an atlas or paper map
• Pack a cooler with snacks and drinks to limit unnecessary stops and save money
• Take a break every 2 hours to stay alert
• Check the weather forecast before you leave to make sure you're not heading into storms
• Double-check your accommodation bookings before heading out
• Don't speed. It uses more gas, leads to tickets, and is dangerous

Read More: Federal Law Puts Kill Switch in New Cars by 2027

If you are traveling over Memorial Day weekend, be safe, take your time, and have fun.