BECKLEY, W.Va. — Memorial Day weekend this year is expected to bring record travel across the U.S., and West Virginia officials, tourism businesses, and travelers are preparing for crowded highways, full campgrounds, and busy outdoor destinations.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) projects that 45 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday period, May 21 through May 25, 2026, setting a new record for the holiday weekend. About 39.4 million are expected to travel by car.
In West Virginia, the holiday marks the start of the state’s busiest tourism season. Travelers are expected to head to mountain towns, lakes, campgrounds, state parks, and the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, which has become one of the state’s biggest tourism draws since receiving national park designation in 2020.
Memorial Day weekend travel in West Virginia
Unlike many states, where Memorial Day traffic centers on large metropolitan areas and beaches, travel in West Virginia is spread across mountain highways, rural communities, and recreation corridors. Visitors often visit several destinations in a single trip, combining scenic drives with hiking, rafting, fishing, and camping.
“People don’t usually come to West Virginia to stay in one place,” said David Sibray, publisher of the West Virginia Explorer. “They travel through the state. They drive the mountain roads, stop in small towns, and spend time outdoors. The trip itself is part of the attraction.”
Tourism continues to grow across the state. West Virginia recently reported more than 77 million annual visitors and more than $9 billion in tourism-related economic impact, according to state tourism data.
The state’s public lands are among the primary attractions. West Virginia has 35 state parks, nine state forests, and more than 100 wildlife management areas. The state also promotes more than 2,000 miles of whitewater streams and rivers.
Travelers heading through southern West Virginia during Memorial Day weekend are expected to encounter heavier traffic near Fayetteville, Beckley, and Summersville as visitors head to rafting outfitters, campgrounds, and hiking trails around the New River Gorge region.
Park officials have said holiday weekends regularly push many facilities near capacity. During previous Memorial Day weekends, West Virginia park officials reported that campgrounds, cabins, and picnic areas filled completely at several state parks and forests.
Sibray said travel in West Virginia differs from that in surrounding states because visitors often seek remote destinations rather than urban entertainment centers.
“In many states, Memorial Day travel means beaches, amusement parks, or major cities,” Sibray said. “In West Virginia, a lot of people are looking for rivers, mountains, and back roads. They want scenery and outdoor recreation.”
Road travel remains the dominant mode of transportation nationwide during the holiday weekend. AAA estimates that nearly 87 percent of Memorial Day travelers this year will drive.
Sibray said that trend is especially visible in West Virginia, where interstate highways quickly give way to two-lane mountain roads linking parks and small communities. Traffic slowdowns are common near bridge construction projects, mountain passes, and recreation areas, particularly along Interstate 64, Interstate 77, and U.S. Route 19.
Memorial Day travel in West Virginia is more outdoorsy
Travelers also tend to stay longer in the state than in more urban destinations because recreational activities are spread across multiple regions. A family visiting the New River Gorge may also visit nearby state parks, lakes, or small towns during the same weekend.
The growth of outdoor recreation tourism has reshaped parts of the state’s economy. Communities such as Davis and Fayetteville have seen increased demand for lodging, restaurants, and tourism services as more travelers visit public lands and recreation areas.
Sibray said Memorial Day weekend also serves as an introduction to West Virginia for many first-time visitors.
“A lot of travelers discover the state for the first time during Memorial Day weekend,” he said. “Once people see how much public land and outdoor recreation there is here, many of them come back later in the summer or fall.”
State tourism officials expect strong visitation throughout the summer season as travelers continue to seek outdoor destinations within driving distance of major East Coast and Midwest population centers.
Nationally, analysts expect highways and airports to remain crowded throughout the holiday weekend. Travel experts advise motorists to leave early, expect delays, and prepare for heavier traffic near recreation destinations and metropolitan areas.