Travel will be up slightly this Memorial Day holiday despite high gas prices and increasing hotel costs, according to the American Automobile Association, which estimates that 38.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 1.7 percent increase from last year.
Approximately 32.1 million travelers expect to go by motor vehicle, a 1.8 percent increase from the 31.5 million who drove a year ago.
Another 4.4 million plan to travel by airplane, up 1.0 percent from last Memorial Day. A projected 1.9 million vacationers will travel by train, bus, or other mode of transportation, about even with a year ago.
"High gas prices aren't deterring Americans from traveling this Memorial Day," said Janet Ray, managing director of corporate communications for AAA Washington. "Many members coming in to our offices for holiday and summer travel advice from our auto travel agents are expressing their concern about the high gas prices, but their continuing to plan summer road trips. We have noticed a slight increase in the number of people requesting information on train travel."
Holiday motorists will find gas prices in Washington averaging $3.44 per gallon for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline, up 34 cents in the past month and 29 cents higher than a year ago. Currently, the nationwide average is $3.11 for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline, up 25 cents from a month ago and more than 19 cents higher than this time last year.
Travelers will get a bit of a break this holiday weekend when making their way to their destination. AAA's Leisure Travel Index shows flights over the holiday weekend averaging 5 percent less this year than last year, with the average flight costing $166. Car rental rates are expected to fall 16 percent from last year, with renters paying an average of $31, almost $6 less than last year. Hotel rates, however, will be up about 13 percent from a year ago, with travelers spending an average of $174 per night at AAA 3 Diamond hotels.
The average household that is traveling this Memorial Day Weekend will spend $594.
The greatest number of Memorial Day auto travelers will originate in the West with 7.6 million travelers, followed by the Southeast with 6.9 million; Midwest, 6.8 million; Northeast, 6.0 million; and Great Lakes, 4.8 million.
