Orlando has claimed the #1 spot on AAA’s busiest Memorial Day vacation spot record for 2026, and Miami isn’t far behind.
With report crowds, new theme parks, and highways already at capability, right here’s every little thing Florida-bound vacationers must know earlier than leaving the driveway.
Report Numbers, Report Complications
This isn’t the Memorial Day to wing it in Florida. Regardless of gasoline costs being at a four-year excessive, AAA anticipates a report 2.7 million Floridians will take to the roads for the Memorial Day vacation weekend. That surge is a part of a broader nationwide image: AAA tasks 45 million Individuals will journey at the very least 50 miles from house between Thursday, Could 21 and Monday, Could 25, setting a brand new Memorial Day weekend report with 39.1 million vacationers anticipated to drive.
Virtually 2.3 million Floridians will make the journey by automotive, with 236,000 together with air journey and one other 75,000 utilizing buses, trains or cruise ships, in line with AAA projections.
The financial squeeze is actual, however it isn’t stopping anybody. “Memorial Day journey continues to be reaching report ranges, however with the smallest year-over-year enhance in additional than a decade,” stated AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins. “Though journey demand stays sturdy, larger gasoline costs and chronic inflation might trigger some vacationers to shorten journeys, delay plans, or keep nearer to house.”
Nonetheless, Jenkins made clear that habits is shifting reasonably than stopping: “They’re not canceling plans. Generally, what persons are doing is simply budgeting otherwise.”
Orlando Is #1 — And Epic Universe Is the Wildcard
Orlando has formally secured the #1 spot because the busiest Memorial Day journey vacation spot within the nation for 2026, with demand for Florida’s iconic sights — from Walt Disney World and Common Orlando to the newly opened Epic Universe — at an all-time excessive.
Epic Universe, which opened in Could 2025 as Common’s fourth and largest park ever, continues to be in its high-demand “new park” section. Epic Universe had its busiest day ever in early 2026 — not simply the best wait occasions for Epic Universe, however for any park at Common Orlando or Walt Disney World since at the very least 2019, with common waits of 107 minutes and a number of headliners hitting 200+ minutes. Memorial Day weekend is just not the second to indicate up with out a plan.
Miami ranks fifth nationally on AAA’s reserving knowledge record, whereas pump costs round $4.43 per gallon are pushing I-95 and I-75 to close capability as tens of millions converge on Orlando, Miami, and Tampa.
When to Drive — and When to Keep Put
Timing is every little thing. Keep off the street Thursday and Friday afternoons to keep away from the worst Memorial Day weekend site visitors, in line with INRIX forecasts, with Sunday providing the lightest site visitors all day.
For Florida particularly, the worst home windows are Thursday 1–9 p.m. and Friday midday–8 p.m. — each coinciding with peak departure occasions on I-4 towards Orlando and I-95 alongside the coast. The most secure bets: go away Friday earlier than 11 a.m. or journey Saturday morning.
Tampa additionally enters the weekend with its personal native angle. Busch Gardens Tampa has introduced the return of free beer for the season, including one more draw to a metropolis already seeing elevated customer demand.
Earlier than You Go
Vacationers ought to issue in additional than simply site visitors. Florida at the moment sits third within the nation for confirmed measles instances in 2026, with the CDC warning that summer season journey and enormous occasion gatherings will speed up unfold. Examine vaccination standing earlier than heading into massive crowds at theme parks or seaside locations.
AAA additionally advises a pre-trip car verify — tire strain, battery, fluids and brakes — after responding to greater than 350,000 roadside help calls final Memorial Day. The time to seek out out your battery is useless is just not on I-4 at 2 p.m. Friday.
