Memorial Day Travel is Still on, but the Bill Is Getting Uglier

USA Today, Axios, Reuters, the Hill contributed to this report.

The long weekend is here, and so is the sticker shock.

Americans are still packing up for Memorial Day trips in huge numbers, even though gas prices are at their highest level in four years and almost everything tied to summer travel is costing more. Around 45 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between May 21 and May 25, according to AAA, with most of them driving. A few million will fly anyway, which says a lot about how badly people want the holiday to happen.

But nobody is getting away cheaply.

Gas is the biggest pain point. The national average for regular unleaded has climbed to about $4.56 a gallon, up sharply from last month and way above where it was a year ago. That jump is being driven by the war in Iran and the squeeze on oil and fuel supplies tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a shipping route that matters a lot more than most drivers ever think about until prices spike.

Flights are pricier too. Hotel rates are up. Even the backyard barbecue is looking expensive, with beef, tomatoes and drinks all climbing. So whether people are heading to the shore, flying to see family or just firing up the grill at home, the holiday is bringing a bigger tab than usual.

Lindsay Owens of the Groundwork Collaborative put it pretty bluntly: there is almost no version of summer fun that avoids higher costs right now. Road trip, hotel, flight, cookout, air conditioning at home — all of it is more expensive.

Travelers who booked early may have dodged some of the worst airfare pain, but not by much. Airline tickets are still up year over year, and hotel stays are also running hotter. If you are staying home to save money, the grocery store may still get you. Ground beef is more expensive, tomatoes are up hard, and beverage prices are moving in the wrong direction too.

People are already adjusting. More shoppers are heading to discount stores, hunting for coupons and switching to cheaper brands. Some will trim the trip, drive fewer miles or skip it entirely. GasBuddy says that is becoming the new normal, with cost now driving a lot of summer travel decisions.

There are a few ways to soften the blow. Shop around before you buy gas, use grocery-store deals for cookout food, and leave early if you are driving so you are not stuck in the worst traffic and the worst prices at the same time. But there is no magic fix this year.

Memorial Day weekend is still Memorial Day weekend. It just comes with a lot more math.