Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner. If you haven’t booked anything yet, you’re probably thinking you’re out of luck. We looked at recent Dollar Flight Club data and pulled current Memorial Day pricing from JetBlue, American, Southwest, and the budget carriers still flying.
The headline is that deals still exist, if you know where to look and you have some flexibility. The Caribbean and Florida are still producing competitive sub-$450 roundtrip fares. Mexico is coming in under $500 to major beach destinations. Domestic city trips are running $300-$400 if you’re flexible on timing.
This is last-minute holiday weekend travel, so expectations need to be realistic. You won’t get the rock-bottom March pricing or perfect flight times, but if you move fast and stay flexible, a Memorial Day getaway is absolutely on the table.
Read also: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Cheap Flights
Key takeaways
- Caribbean & Florida: 7 destinations under $450 roundtrip, with Fort Lauderdale and Orlando leading at $308-$378
- Mexico & Central America: 5 destinations under $625, with Costa Rica at $283 representing the best values
- Domestic Cities: 7 major hubs averaging $300-$400 roundtrip, with price variations up to $100+ depending on departure airport choice
- Booking Timeline: Fares are climbing $20-40 per ticket daily; 48-hour booking window recommended for Caribbean/domestic routes
- Fuel Impact: Short-haul routes (under 4 hours) are holding 15-20% better pricing than historical Memorial Day averages due to competitive pressure from low-cost carriers, despite doubled jet fuel costs
1. What's Actually Available Right Now
The Caribbean and Florida: JetBlue is offering East Coast to Florida and Caribbean fares in the low-$100s one-way on select routes, with many roundtrip itineraries still pricing between $300-$500.
Mexico is still under $500. Cancún is averaging under $500 roundtrip from most major U.S. cities. That’s competitive given the holiday weekend premium and the fact that all-inclusive resort packages are still bookable.
Domestic cities are running $300-$400. NYC, LA, Miami, Vegas, Chicago, and Denver (all the major hubs) have availability in the $300-$400 roundtrip range if you’re not set to specific departure times.
What’s expensive: Friday departures and beach resort towns where hotels are already sold out or marked up 40%.
The fuel crisis: Jet fuel prices have risen sharply this spring, putting pressure on long-haul international airfare. Short-haul Caribbean, Mexico, and domestic routes are holding up better because they require less fuel and face more competition from low-cost carriers
2. Best Caribbean & Florida Deals for Memorial Day Weekend
The Caribbean and Florida are where the value is right now. These routes are short, fuel-efficient, and heavily served by budget carriers. JetBlue is leading the pack with aggressive Memorial Day pricing.
What We’re Seeing from Top U.S. Airports:
- Bahamas: $244 roundtrip
- Trinidad & Tobago: $260 roundtrip
- Jamaica: $302 roundtrip
- Fort Lauderdale, FL: $308 roundtrip
- Aruba: $344 roundtrip
- Orlando, FL: $378 roundtrip
- San Juan, Puerto Rico: $422 roundtrip
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: $442 roundtrip
You’re still under $500 to most Caribbean destinations for Memorial Day weekend, which is competitive given the 10-day booking window.
3. Mexico & Central America
Mexico is the smart middle ground. It’s close enough that you’re not losing half a day to travel. It’s warm but not brutally hot yet in late May. And once you factor in food, drinks, and activities, it’s significantly cheaper than the Caribbean.
- Costa Rica: $283 roundtrip
- Cancún, Mexico: $450-$500 roundtrip average
- Mexico City: $515 roundtrip average
- San José del Cabo: $623 roundtrip average
4. Major U.S. Cities
Not everyone wants to deal with international logistics 10 days out. Domestic city trips are still viable for Memorial Day, and hotels in major cities often have better last-minute availability than beach resorts.
- Los Angeles: $298-$379 roundtrip average
- Miami: $300-$400 roundtrip average
- Chicago: $334 roundtrip average
- Las Vegas: $340 roundtrip average
- Denver: $341 roundtrip average
- New York City: $344 roundtrip average
- Dallas: $354 roundtrip average
City trips make more sense than beach resorts when booking this late. Hotels have better availability, there’s more flexibility if weather’s weird, and you’re not competing for ocean-view rooms that sold out weeks ago. Make sure to check all nearby airports to get the best deals. For example, NYC has JFK/LGA/EWR. DC has DCA/IAD/BWI. Chicago has ORD/MDW. A 30-minute drive can save $100+ per ticket.
5. When to Book
Memorial Day is 10 days out. Booking this late limits options, but flexible travelers can still find strong value.
The booking window:
- Domestic & Caribbean: Next 48 hours. Prices are climbing daily.
- Mexico: Through the weekend, but don’t push it past Friday.
- U.S. cities: Slightly more flexible, but hotels are filling fast.
Flight timing matters more than most people realize: Depart Thursday morning. Return Tuesday. Friday departures are always the most expensive and crowded.
Every day you wait costs money: Roughly speaking, fares are rising $20-$40 per ticket per day, meaning booking today instead of Friday could mean a $100+ difference for two travelers.
6. Last-Minute Booking Strategy
Booking 10 days out for a holiday weekend requires a different approach than normal travel planning. Here’s what actually matters:
- Be flexible or pay the premium.
The more locked in you are on specific destinations, dates and airports, the more you’ll pay. Flexibility is the biggest money-saver available this late. - Check all nearby airports.
NYC: JFK/LGA/EWR. DC: DCA/IAD/BWI. Driving 30 minutes can save $100+.
- One-way might beat roundtrip.
Don’t assume roundtrip is cheaper. Sometimes booking different airlines outbound vs return saves money. Google Flights makes this comparison easy.
- Trip insurance is worth it this close to travel.
You’re committing without much flexibility. Trip insurance is $30-50 and covers you if anything goes wrong.
- Pack light to avoid fees.
Ultra-low-cost carriers charge for everything. If you can do a long weekend with personal item + carry-on, you’ll save $50+ in baggage fees
Methodology
Dollar Flight Club analyzed recent airfare pricing trends for Memorial Day weekend travel across major U.S. airports using publicly available fare data from major domestic and international airlines on May 12, 2026.
