‘It’s going to feel busy’: Bend hotels gear up for record Memorial Day crowds
(Update: Adding video, adding comments from Visit Bend, local hotels)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Travel over the Memorial Day weekend this year is expected to set a new record, with the Bend area again the top Northwest destination, AAA Oregon/Idaho said Monday.
"It's going to feel busy," said Nath Wyeth, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Visit Bend.
According to Visit Bend, tourism in the area has continued to grow year after year.
"Last year, Memorial Day weekend was actually a really strong weekend. It was up, about four and a half percentage points from the year prior. So we've seen continued growth Memorial Day weekend," Wyeth said.
Many local hotels are at full capacity this weekend, attributing the surge in visitors to the warm weather and the wide range of events happening across the area.
"It's a mix of Mount Bachelor's closing weekend and a major concert in town. With great weather, people from drive markets are heading this way," said Devin Cuzzolina, Area Director of Operations at Oxford Hotel. "Overall, people just enjoy the activities and hospitality Central Oregon has to offer."
Hotels mentioned many will be in town for a baseball tournament this weekend as well.
The Campfire Hotel says many locals are also checking in for a quick getaway.
"People want to come out and get away from their everyday life a little bit without having to travel too far," said Keagan Parks, general manager of the Campfire Hotel. "We've also heard people like to get away from their in-laws during holidays for a night. Things like that tend to drive people to this property and it's great. We love seeing locals here."
AAA projects 45.1 million Americans (13.2% of the population) will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend. That's an increase of 1.4 million travelers (3.1%) over 2024, and surpasses the previous record of 44 million travelers in 2005. The record volume is fueled by a record number of people traveling by car.
In the Pacific Region, Region (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA), 7.8 million people (14.4% of the population) are expected to travel, a 3.7% increase compared to 2024.
About 617,000 Oregonians will travel over the long weekend. The Memorial Day travel period is defined as Thursday, May 22 through Monday, May 26.
The holiday marks the unofficial start of summer, which is projected to be the busiest travel season.
"We'll be busy all summer long. People are coming to town so remember to make reservations early. We do offer special rates for people attending concerts," said Debra Jolma, Director of Marketing and Sales for Waypoint Hotel.
“AAA expects record travel this Memorial Day weekend, but that doesn’t mean that all folks are taking extravagant vacations to far-flung destinations. Rather, a majority are packing up the car and taking a road trip. In fact, AAA expects a record number to travel by car this Memorial Day weekend – 39.4 million,” says Marie Dodds, public affairs director for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
AAA Oregon/Idaho says despite concerns about the economy, travelers are taking advantage of the long holiday weekend to spend time with loved one, and many are planning trips closer to home.
“Many will be driving to places like Central Oregon or the Oregon coast or visiting friends – some travelers will take day trips. Those who are traveling farther from home usually extend their trips beyond Memorial Day for a week or more. Many of these trips have been planned and booked months in advance,” says Doreen Loofburrow, vice president of travel for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Top Memorial Day Destinations
AAA booking data reveals that theme parks, beaches and cruise ports are among the most popular destinations domestically and abroad, based on searches and bookings by members of AAA Oregon/Idaho.
With the majority of travelers taking trips by car, Bend, Portland, Eugene, Boise and the Oregon Coast are the most popular regional destinations for members of AAA Oregon/Idaho.
Anaheim tops the list of U.S. destinations because of the Disneyland Resort. Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. rank high because of the popularity of Alaska cruises this time of year. Hawaii and Cabo San Lucas are popular warm-weather destinations. And the top European cities are London and Dublin.
Read more at: https://info.oregon.aaa.com/aaa-more-than-45-million-americans-including-617000-oregonians-to-travel-for-memorial-day/
