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AAA Projects Record Memorial Day Travel Despite High Gas Prices

10 May 2000

AAA Projects Record Memorial Day Travel Despite High Gas Prices

    ORLANDO, Fla.--May 10, 2000--A record number of Americans plan to travel this Memorial Day holiday, marking the tenth consecutive year of increased travel for this traditional launch to the summer travel season, according to AAA.
    Despite higher gas prices, 34.4 million Americans are expected to travel 100 miles or more from home, up 3 percent from last Memorial Day and 31 percent from the 1991 holiday.
    AAA's pre-holiday Fuel Gauge Report shows self-serve regular gasoline averaging $1.465 per gallon, 30.8 cents higher than last Memorial Day.
    AAA's annual Memorial Day survey projects 28.4 million people will be traveling by auto, light truck or recreational vehicle, a 3 percent increase over 1999. Another 6 million travelers plan to get away by airplane, train or bus this year, up 5 percent over last year.
    The greatest number of Memorial Day auto travelers will originate in the West with 6.6 million, followed by the Southeast with 6.5 million; Midwest, 5.7 million; Northeast, 5.1 million; and Great Lakes, 4.5 million.
    Towns and rural areas are the destinations of choice this year garnering 27 percent of the holiday travel volume. Other destinations include cities, 22 percent; oceans/beaches, 16 percent; lakes, 13 percent; mountains, 9 percent; state/national parks, 6 percent; and theme/amusement parks, 3 percent. Another 4 percent responded with other/don't know/no response.
    Of the total Memorial Day travelers, the majority, 36 percent, plan to stay at a hotel/motel and another 33 percent will stay with friends or relatives. Other overnight plans include: camper/trailer/RV/tent, 16 percent; cabin/condo, 9 percent; boat/ship, 1 percent; and other/don't know/no response, 5 percent.
    Research for Memorial Day is based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, which conducts special research for AAA.