AAA Texas Releases Memorial Day Travel Projections
HOUSTON--May 24, 2001--Record gasoline prices and a sluggish economy are not expected to deter travelers this Memorial Day holiday.AAA's annual Memorial Day survey projects that 34.2 million Americans plan to travel 50 miles or more from home, up less than 1 percent from last year's 32.1 million.
Approximately 28.5 million people plan to travel by motor vehicle -- a slight increase from last year's 28.4 million. Another 5.7 million travelers expect to go by airplane, train or bus, the same number as last Memorial Day holiday.
"People are looking forward to traveling this Memorial Day holiday and during the summer, despite paying slightly higher gas prices, then the previous year," says Rose Rougeau, a spokesperson for AAA Texas. "Travelers may not be in the mood to spend more money at the pumps, but they are in the mood to travel."
Of the total Memorial Day travelers, the majority, 41 percent, plan to stay at a hotel/motel. Other overnight plans include:
| -- | friends/relatives - 29% |
| -- | camper/trailer/RV/tent - 12% |
| -- | cabin/condo - 9% |
| -- | bed and breakfast - 2% |
| -- | boat/ship - 1% |
| -- | other/don't know - 6% |
Research for Memorial Day travel is based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, which conducts special research for AAA.
AAA Texas offers these tips for travelers:
-- Plan ahead -- to save time & money.
-- Get vehicle checked by qualified technician to prevent
possible breakdowns.
-- Allow extra time to reach destination.
-- Bring books, compact games and puzzles for children.
-- Secure children and adults in safety seats or seat belts.
National Unleaded Average
Regular Mid Premium Diesel
-------- -------- -------- --------
Current Avg. $1.697 $1.801 $1.866 $1.579
Yesterday Avg. $1.699 $1.804 $1.869 $1.576
Month Ago Avg. $1.624 $1.724 $1.787 $1.539
Year Ago Avg. $1.529 $1.631 $1.681 $1.509
Highest Recorded Price:
-------------------------------------
Regular Unl. $1.718 5/15/2001
DSL. $1.702 10/19/2000
Texas Unleaded Average
Regular Mid Premium Diesel
-------- -------- -------- --------
Current Avg. $1.597 $1.689 $1.750 $1.471
Yesterday Avg. $1.597 $1.689 $1.750 $1.467
Month Ago Avg. $1.567 $1.657 $1.717 $1.447
Year Ago Avg. $1.467 $1.554 $1.610 $1.421
Highest Recorded Price:
-------------------------------------
Regular Unl. $1.611 5/15/2001
DSL. $1.606 11/28/2000
Amarillo Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.653 $1.749 $1.812 $1.575
Yesterday $1.639 $1.734 $1.797 $1.553
Month Ago $1.530 $1.619 $1.677 $1.452
Year Ago $1.477 $1.555 $1.571 $1.444
Austin-San Marcos Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.521 $1.609 $1.667 $1.449
Yesterday $1.515 $1.602 $1.660 $1.442
Month Ago $1.505 $1.593 $1.650 $1.426
Year Ago $1.436 $1.517 $1.605 $1.416
Beaumont-Port Arthur Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.504 $1.591 $1.648 $1.415
Yesterday $1.507 $1.595 $1.652 $1.411
Month Ago $1.525 $1.614 $1.672 $1.407
Year Ago $1.409 $1.520 $1.571 $1.379
Corpus Christi Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.438 $1.522 $1.577 $1.443
Yesterday $1.443 $1.526 $1.581 $1.444
Month Ago $1.469 $1.554 $1.610 $1.439
Year Ago $1.394 $1.454 $1.525 $1.393
Dallas Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.651 $1.747 $1.810 $1.513
Yesterday $1.656 $1.752 $1.815 $1.504
Month Ago $1.616 $1.710 $1.771 $1.476
Year Ago $1.486 $1.569 $1.646 $1.448
El Paso Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.527 $1.616 $1.674 $1.470
Yesterday $1.514 $1.602 $1.659 $1.477
Month Ago $1.484 $1.570 $1.627 $1.405
Year Ago $1.486 $1.584 $1.686 $1.404
Fort Worth-Arlington Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.650 $1.745 $1.808 $1.506
Yesterday $1.648 $1.744 $1.807 $1.498
Month Ago $1.615 $1.708 $1.770 $1.492
Year Ago $1.472 $1.552 $1.639 $1.444
Galveston-Texas City Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.631 $1.725 $1.788 $1.419
Yesterday $1.632 $1.727 $1.789 $1.412
Month Ago $1.616 $1.709 $1.771 $1.432
Year Ago $1.509 $1.609 $1.613 $1.432
Houston Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.622 $1.716 $1.778 $1.450
Yesterday $1.623 $1.717 $1.779 $1.447
Month Ago $1.605 $1.698 $1.759 $1.455
Year Ago $1.490 $1.599 $1.604 $1.424
San Antonio Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.480 $1.566 $1.622 $1.449
Yesterday $1.471 $1.556 $1.612 $1.449
Month Ago $1.449 $1.533 $1.588 $1.447
Year Ago $1.405 $1.471 $1.553 $1.398
Texarkana (TX only) Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $1.562 $1.652 $1.712 $1.447
Yesterday $1.525 $1.613 $1.671 $1.429
Month Ago $1.459 $1.544 $1.599 $1.373
Year Ago $1.446 $1.494 $1.469 $1.355
-- Prices are in U.S. dollars per gallon
-- Daily Gas Average Prices as of Thursday, May 24, 2001
AAA Texas has been serving Texans since 1902. AAA Texas offers its members a full service travel agency, auto-related and financial services, as well as public safety programs and legislative advocacy.