Memorial Day Billboards

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer and a day that bleeds into a weekend of unadulterated fun, time in the sun, and a glimpse of the summertime joy coming ahead.

This is also the perfect time to capitalize on that pre-summer foot traffic and get in early by spreading the word in towns near the beaches, along routes to the most popular attractions, and all of those restaurant hot spots along walkable streets.

As millions of Americans hit the road, brands and companies have a rare opportunity where it matters most: outside! Not only is it outside, but this special holiday allows countless workers to take the day off and enjoy themselves. Mix this with longer daylight hours, increased mobility, and placements aligned with high consumer intent; your message can go the mile!

Whether you’re promoting a limited-time sale, summer product lunch, or simply want to boost your brand’s awareness, Memorial Day weekend is prime territory in the out-of-home (OOH) world.

Why Memorial Day is Prime Time for OOH

More than 45 million Americans travel over Memorial Day weekend, making it one of the busiest holiday travel periods in the country. That means packed highways, crowded and bustling airports, and consumers looking for the best way to spend this weekend—an ideal audience for well-placed billboards.

The sheer volume of viewers can give a billboard, even in the least successful locations, a massive boost of profitable viewership. Tourists are a particularly valuable audience for OOH advertising during Memorial Day since they have increased amounts of disposable income and are no strangers to spending a little more for enhanced experiences.

Strategic Billboard Placement for Memorial Day

The increased traffic of Memorial Day is not simply limited to major cities. Suburban highways, retail areas, and regional travel routes all see a significant surge in volume. To maximize exposure, brands should prioritize placements where consumers are actively moving and spending.

Highways & Interstates

Billboards along major routes capture road-trippers and weekend travelers, two audience bases that are expected to be at an increase during this holiday. Messaging should be bold and readable at high speeds and focused on immediate action or awareness.

Shopping Centers

With Memorial Day sales in full swing, OOH near malls and commercial zones reinforce urgency and drive traffic. This is especially effective for retail, apparel, and electronic brands. All are categories that align with what Memorial Day travelers and enjoyers may need to make the most out of this holiday.

Tourist & Event Destinations

Ads near benches, parks, amusement areas, and local attractions reach consumers in a relaxed and extremely receptive mindset. Place-based advertisements like transit shelters, airport kiosks, and mobile billboards perform especially well in these areas.

Airport & Transit Hubs

Travelers flying out for the long weekend spend significant time in terminals and other travel areas. Airport displays, especially digital ones, can promote destinations, services, offers, or simply share brand storytelling—powerful messages that reach audiences when they are captive.

Final Thoughts & Creative Tips

With just a few seconds to capture attention, Memorial Day billboards need to be creative. Simple, powerful, and seasonally relevant designs and messages are most effective. Here are some closing strategies and design tactics to make your campaign shine:

• Use patriotic color schemes: Red, white, and blue connect emotionally and visually with the holiday.
• Keep your advertisement copy short and action-driven: Phrases like “Ends Monday,” “Limited Time,” or “Memorial Day Deals” drive urgency.
• Integrate QR codes or short URLs: Especially on digital boards, these can drive traffic to landing pages or exclusive offers.

Now you know all the tricks in our OOH playbook. Go out there and make the most of Memorial Day!