Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of the summer travel season, and AAA projects that a total of about 45 million Americans will travel by air or on the roads this weekend.

Los Angeles

The summer travel season has commenced, with approximately 45 million Americans expected to travel by road or air, according to AAA. This marks an increase of about one million travelers compared to last year. Lower airfare, hotel, and gas prices are contributing to the rise in travel, with airfare down about 8% from the previous year and gas prices also slightly reduced.

Despite these decreases, travel costs remain about 12% higher than before the pandemic. The drop in international visitors to the US is also making domestic travel more affordable for Americans. Travel experts caution that potential tariff increases could drive prices up later in the season.

Summer travel season kicks off

Millions of Americans are hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend, the start of the summer travel season. Airports are packed, even while most are driving. CBS's Allie Bauman is at a rest stop along the New Jersey Turnpike. Allie, good evening. Good evening, Nancy. Airfare, hotel, and gas prices are cheaper now than they were last Memorial Day weekend. Travel experts predict that will encourage more people to take a trip this summer and maybe even splurge on an upgrade. Off the New Jersey Turnpike, we caught up with the Parks family headed to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Gettysburg's one of our favorite spots in the world. The parks are some of the nearly 40 million Americans expected on the road this holiday weekend, about one million people more than last year, all enjoying slightly cheaper gas prices. When the gas prices are cheaper and the hotel prices are cheaper, we have an opportunity to go on more ghost tours or go to a better restaurant. In total, AAA says an estimated 45 million Americans are traveling this holiday weekend. If this weekend is any indication of what's to come, it's gonna be very busy on our roadways, at the airport. The TSA expects to screen about 18 million people. Nearly three million were screened Thursday alone, making it the fourth busiest air travel day ever. Airfare prices are down about 8% compared to last year. Travel experts say that's partly due to airlines stripping away extras from the base fee. If they're fine with the middle seat, if they're fine packing light, not bringing a bag, this is an excellent way to save. Also fueling the discounts is the drop in foreign tourists visiting the US. International visits were down 14% in March. What that means for American travelers staying within the US is that this is a good time to get a good deal because you are not competing with as many international travelers. And while airfare and gas prices are down, experts say traveling this summer will still cost about 12% more than before the pandemic. And tariff threats, they say, could bring up prices by the end of this summer. So Nancy, get the deals while they last. Ali Bauman, thank you.

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