AAA Predicts Record Fourth of July Travel as Gas Prices Decline

BELLEVUE, Wash., June 30 -- AAA reports the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in Washington ($2.116/gal) and Idaho ($2.001/gal) are declining as we head into the Fourth of July weekend. Gas prices in Washington have decreased 19 cents since Memorial Day weekend, with a nearly eight-cent drop in Idaho. The national average for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline has dropped to $1.907 per gallon.

Even though prices remain higher than a year ago, AAA predicts a record- breaking number of Americans will travel during the upcoming holiday. AAA estimates that 39.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home, up 3.4 percent from last year's Fourth of July holiday.

Approximately 34.4 million travelers plan to go by motor vehicle, a 3 percent increase from a year ago. Another 4.6 million plan to travel by airplane, up 4.5 percent from the same period last year. The remaining 400,000 projected vacationers (1 percent) will go by train, bus, or other mode of transportation, about even with a year ago.

To assist motorists in planning their holiday and summer driving trips, AAA has developed a Fuel Cost Calculator, available at www.aaa.com.

              Local Self-serve Regular Unleaded Fuel Prices

       City                  4th of July  Memorial Day  4th of July
                                 2004         2004         2003

    Washington                   2.116        2.307        1.60
       Bellingham                2.139        2.329        1.615
       Bremerton                 2.101        2.285        1.577
       Olympia                   2.089        2.314        1.571
       Seattle-Bellevue-Everett  2.151        2.351        1.608
       Spokane                   2.100        2.18         1.561
       Tacoma                    2.093        2.299        1.559
       Tri-Cities                2.064        2.216        1.585
       Vancouver                 2.104        2.265        1.541
       Walla Walla               2.14         2.25         1.64
       Wenatchee                 2.134        2.257        1.592
       Yakima                    2.038        2.231        1.605
    Idaho                        2.001        2.079        1.566
       Coeur d'Alene             2.009        2.169        1.601
       Lewiston                  1.98         2.07         1.55

AAA Washington/Inland has been serving members since 1904. Today, the organization's members benefit by roadside assistance and other automotive programs, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available at the company's website at www.aaa.com.