AAA Projects Record Memorial Day Travel

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record 37.2 million Americans will travel over the Memorial Day holiday weekend despite the highest gasoline prices ever recorded for a holiday, AAA said Wednesday.

The number of Americans who will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday is a 2.2% increase from last year, the travel association said.

About 31 million travelers, or 84%, expect to travel by motor vehicle, a 2.2% increase from the 30.5 million who drove a year ago, AAA said.

Another 4.2 million, or 11%, plan to travel by airplane, 3.2$ higher than last Memorial Day. Another 1.9 million vacationers, or 5%, will travel by train, bus, or other mode, about the same as a year ago, the group said.

"The highest-ever holiday gas prices won't keep Americans from traveling," said Sandra Hughes, AAA Travel’s vice president.

"Prices might be 15 cents per gallon higher than last year's then-record levels, but gasoline remains a relatively small part of most travelers’ vacation costs. Look for another crowded holiday on the highways," she said.

Holiday auto travelers will find gas prices nationwide currently averaging about $2.15 for a gallon of regular gasoline — a drop of 9 cents over the past month, but about 15 cents higher than the last year, which was at the time a record, AAA said.

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