Memorial Day weekend travel rush begins at Orlando International Airport

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Memorial Day weekend travel rush is now underway, and according to AAA, 2.5 million Floridians will travel 50 miles or more over the next few days.

That’s nearly 126,000 more travelers than the previous high, which was set in 2023.

Travelers at Orlando International Airport Friday said that at the end of the day, they just want to beat the travel rush as best they can.

“Don’t let a timestamp ruin what you had on a good trip,” Florida visitor Michael Moore said. 

Others said they were glad to have made it to the airport quickly.

“Ultimately, I didn’t have any delays expected,” Florida visitor Omar Mousa said. “I got here in one piece. It was quick, easy, and I’m ready for the sun.” 

Mousa is visiting the Sunshine State from California to attend Collect-A-Con. 

“What we do is we have cards, and we’ll trade them for other cards,” he said. “The whole idea is it’s for the kids, it’s for us, it’s fun.”

Other travelers were also breathing a sigh of relief.

“I saw this story on the news, and I said, ‘I should have booked it one more day earlier than we did,’ but we felt no consequences at all. We traveled real easy,” Florida resident David Miller said.

Even though the coast is clear for these travelers, experts say that could change in the coming days.

“Travel times are expected to be 90% longer than a normal weekend,” AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said. “So, if you’re heading out to the beach, or to the airport or to the attractions, you should plan. Leave early and expect congestion out on the roadways.” 

AAA information shows that travelers are seeking theme park destinations this year, which puts Orlando at the top of the list of this year’s domestic destinations.

Orlando International Airport officials say if travelers want to avoid headaches, they should arrive at least three hours early.