Travel Dispatch: Getting ready for the holiday weekend

May 23, 2026

A shallow bay is surrounded by marshland beneath a clear morning sky. In the foreground, gray tendrils of Spanish moss hang from a tree's branches.

Dear Travel Fan,

All of a sudden, Memorial Day is here, and with it the start of the summer travel season. This weekend is traditionally one of the biggest for travel in the United States, and we’ve been working hard to make sure you’re ready:

If you’re planning a road trip, we did the math on car rentals. With gas prices so high, are you better off renting an E.V., a hybrid or a regular car?
If you’re looking for ways to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, we’ve got a list of great suggestions.
If you’re thinking about a beach getaway, we’ve got a half-dozen ideas that would be perfect for this weekend, or any weekend, this summer.
If you’re looking for an undiscovered weekend beach spot near Los Angeles, we’ve got you covered.

We also kept on top of the news this week, with details about plans by the Transportation Security Administration to expand its use of private contractors for screening. The job is already done by private security agents at 20 U.S. airports, including San Francisco International Airport. And for many travelers planning to visit Thailand, that country just changed its rules for how long you can stay.

Each week we’ve been bringing you a story about the American Revolution and how you can engage with the history of that event. When you think of the war for independence, the Gulf Coast probably does not immediately come to mind. But this week the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jack Davis brings us the tale of the Spanish general Bernardo de Gálvez, who in 1779 launched the Gulf Coast Campaign to capture British territory in the South, forcing Britain to fight on two fronts. It’s a lesser-known story, but one worth celebrating in this semiquincentennial year.

Our 36 Hours column stops in Providence, R.I., this week. The city, one of America’s oldest, will be a site for the 250th celebration this summer, as well as being a good spot for anyone going to a World Cup match at nearby Gillette Stadium.

Finally, several weeks ago, we published a fascinating story about a company that pairs visually impaired and sighted travelers to explore the world on group trips. The writer Andy Isaacson traveled to India on one of the organization’s trips. Andy talked to our colleagues on The Times’s podcast team for this Sunday’s episode of The Daily. I’m looking forward to listening.

Wishing you a happy and meaningful Memorial Day,

Amy Virshup

OPEN UP YOUR WORLD

People dressed in colonial-era military outfits parade down a street toward a brick building. Some of them are dressed in red coats and holding drums.

Brendan Sostak, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

A Summer Travel Checklist for America’s 250th Birthday

From the heart of the Revolution to the Midwest and West Coast, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate the semiquincentennial (say that three times, really fast.)

By Anna Diamond

A wide street lined with tall palm trees and buildings. An orange van drives down the road, and cars are parked along the right side.

Is This Beach Town the Perfect Getaway From L.A.?

Ninety minutes north of the city and next to pricey Montecito, laid-back Carpinteria has surfers, seals and miles of beach to walk.

By Danielle Pergament and Tag Christof

Golden light illuminates the sky over an ocean beach framed by palm trees and green foliage. People are on the sand and in the water.

Megan Spelman for The New York Times

6 Perfect Beaches for Your Memorial Day Getaway

Bask on pristine white sand, wander among picturesque lakefront dunes or explore an island where wild horses roam. Just don’t forget the sunscreen.

By Gabe Castro-Root

A broad river delta at sunset reflects the vivid orange and purple sky. A large heron stands in the shallow water, strewed with river grasses.

Revolutionary Journeys

Ghosts of the Gulf: The Unsung Revolutionary War Campaign

Far from the main action, the Spanish fought to reclaim Southern territory from the British, tying up their forces and aiding the American cause. We follow their path along the Gulf of Mexico.

By Jack E. Davis and Annie Flanagan

Two people casting long shadows sit on a grassy area overlooking the sun setting over a town with a domed building.

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times

36 Hours

36 Hours in Providence, R.I.

One of the oldest cities in America makes for a laid-back weekend break.

By Lauren Matison and Tony Cenicola

THE CHANGING WORLD OF TRAVEL

A long traffic jam on a five-lane freeway extends toward a cluster of high-rise buildings. A blue-and-white Frontier Airlines jet flies low overhead.

Kevin Carter/Getty Images

Your Memorial Day Travel Forecast: Heavy Traffic and Pricey Gas

Most U.S. travelers will be driving to their destinations for the long weekend, kicking off what is expected to be a busy summer travel season.

By Christine Chung

A bridge with vehicles on it connects rocky cliffs above an ocean on a mountainous coastal highway.

Drew Kelly for The New York Times

Gas Is Over $4.50 a Gallon. For Your Next Rental, Should You Try an E.V. or Hybrid? We Do the Math.

With gas prices through the roof, more travelers are considering alternative vehicles to control costs. But how much will you really save?

By Elaine Glusac

An airport checkpoint is packed with people holding luggage. A person in a yellow vest carries a red bag with "Chaos Coordinator" text on the side.

Megan Varner/Getty Images

The T.S.A.’s Plan to Speed Up Lines? Replace T.S.A. Agents.

Driven in part by the chaos of the last shutdown, the government is expanding efforts to use private security staff instead of federal employees at more airports.

By Christine Chung

A canal flows between buildings, some with corrugated roofs, others ornate red and gold. A person paddles a blue canoe in the water.

Lauren DeCicca for The New York Times

Thailand Restricts How Long Tourists, Including Americans, Can Stay

The country had loosened entry requirements after the pandemic to attract visitors, but will now limit many travelers to 30 days without a visa.

By Gabe Castro-Root

Feedback, thoughts, tips? Email the Travel desk at travel@nytimes.com.

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