ORLANDO, Fla. -- Travel will be up slightly this Memorial Day holiday despite high gasoline prices and increasing vacation costs, according to AAA.
The group estimates that 37.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 0.9% increase from last year. Approximately 31.4 million travelers (84% of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 0.7% increase from the 31.2 million who drove a year ago.
Another 4.3 million (11% of holiday travelers) plan to travel by airplane, up 1.5% from last [image-nocss] Memorial Day. A projected 1.9 million (5% of all holiday travelers) vacationers will travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation, about even with a year ago.
High gas prices and increased vacation costs won't deter Americans from traveling this Memorial Day, said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes. Families may travel closer to home or for fewer days but they will continue to take vacations and plan getaways.
Holiday auto travelers will find gas prices nationwide currently averaging $2.93 for a gallon of self-serve regular gasolineup 17 cents from a month ago and more than 75 cents higher than this time last year.
Air travelers will also be paying more to fly this weekend. AAA's Leisure Travel Index shows flights over the holiday weekend averaging 10% more this year than last year. Hotel rates will also be up about 5% from a year ago. The greatest increase will be seen in rental car ratesup about 19% from a year agoadding almost $6 to the average daily car rental rate, the highest average rate for Memorial Day weekend in the past six years.
Fewer seats and higher fuel costs have resulted in an increase in ticket prices, said Hughes. Regardless of higher airfares travelers can expect full planes and busy airports for Memorial Day weekend and throughout the remainder of the summer.
AAA's travel agents continue to see increased interest in summer travel compared to a year ago, especially in international travel, which continues to grow in popularity. In addition, cruise sales for AAA travel agencies are up 4.7%, online bookings have increased 35% and sales of trip insurance are up 4% during the same period last year.
The greatest number of Memorial Day auto travelers will originate in the West with 7.5 million travelers, followed by the Southeast with 6.9 million; Midwest, 6.7 million; Northeast, 5.8 million; and Great Lakes, 4.6 million.
The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.4 million, followed by the Midwest with 1.2 million; Southeast, 853,000; Northeast, 555,000; and Great Lakes, 400,000.
Cities top the list of preferred destinations this holiday with 23% of travel volume. Small towns and rural areas took a close second with 22%, followed by ocean/beach at 16%; mountain areas, 8%; and lakes, 13%. State/national parks, 1%, and theme/amusement parks, 6% rounded out the list. Another 10% responded with other, and 2% said they didn't know.
Guest bedrooms across the country will be full this Memorial Day holiday as 41% of travelers expect to stay with friends or relatives. Hotel/motels rank second with 35%; followed by cabin/condo, 8%; no overnight stay, 7%; and camper/trailer/RV/tent, 5%. Another 1% responded with other and 2% didn't know.
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