Fourth of July Sparks Near-Record Travel for Californians
2 July 1998
Fourth of July Sparks Near-Record Travel for Californians, AAA Says
SAN FRANCISCO--July 2, 1998--Northern Californians are blasting off this weekend, making it the busiest Fourth of July holiday for travel in 11 years, AAA reported today."Lower fuel costs and a strong economy are igniting travel plans among Northern Californians," said AAA spokesman Paul Moreno. "A wide variety of destinations are popular this weekend, ranging from desert attractions to skiing and snowboarding."
AAA projects that 36.9 million Americans will venture at least 100 miles from home this holiday weekend. This is up three percent from last year and the most since 1987, when a record 37 million traveled for the Fourth of July holiday.
Of those traveling, 85 percent will go by auto, meaning that 31.6 million Americans will take extended road trips. The other 14 percent will travel by air, train or bus, according to AAA's survey.
Motorists will find gas prices 12-14 cents a gallon cheaper than this time last year, with the Northern California average at $1.28 for a self-serve gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, according to AAA's June 23 gas survey.
A family of two adults and two children traveling together in California can expect to pay $129 for meals and $132 for lodging per day. The national averages are $108 for meals (up $4 from last year) and $110 for lodging (up $15), according to AAA.
Where Are Travelers Headed?
The top three destinations for Northern Californians flying this weekend are Disneyland, Las Vegas and Hawaii.
Motorists have set their sites on theme parks, Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe and the central California coast as the most popular destinations, according to AAA. The most popular destinations for those taking extended vacations are the Grand Canyon, British Colombia and Yellowstone.
The scenic Tioga Pass connecting Yosemite National Park to the eastern Sierra Nevada opened Wednesday after crews finished plowing snow off of Highway 120. Heavy spring snows have allowed Mammoth Mountain to remain open through this weekend for skiing and snowboarding.
Fireworks Display
Want to spark up a holiday spent at home? The events calendar in AAA's VIA magazine lists fireworks displays and festivals throughout Northern California. The on-line events calendar can be found at www.aaa.com.
If you miss fireworks on July 4, a spectacular display of fireworks will occur on July 5 in Ione (Amador County). Pyrotechnicians will deplete their inventories of fireworks in one of the country's biggest fireworks displays at a Rotary Club of Ione scholarship fund-raiser. Admission is $1 per walk-in, or $5 per car. Call 209/223-3850.
AAA Tips for Auto Travelers
