More than 38 million weekend travelers expected

Posted 5/27/16

AAA MountainWest projects more than 38 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. That is the second-highest Memorial Day travel volume on record since 2005. Spurred by the lowest gas prices in more than a decade, about 700,000 more …

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More than 38 million weekend travelers expected

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Memorial Day weekend travel volume will be the second-highest on record, according to AAA.

AAA MountainWest projects more than 38 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend. That is the second-highest Memorial Day travel volume on record since 2005. Spurred by the lowest gas prices in more than a decade, about 700,000 more people will travel compared to last year. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 26, to Monday, May 30.

The average price for a gallon of gasoline Monday in Wyoming was $2.17, about 42 cents less than last year. AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the lowest Memorial Day gas prices since 2005.

“Wyomingites are eagerly awaiting the start of summer and are ready to travel in numbers not seen in more than a decade,” said Anna O’Donnell, AAA MountainWest spokesperson.

AAA estimates that Americans have saved $18 billion on gas so far this year compared to the same period in 2015.  

According to a recent AAA survey, 55 percent of Americans say they are more likely to take a road trip this year due to lower gas.

Nationally, the strong labor market and rising personal income are also motivating people to travel for Memorial Day this year, according to AAA.

Nearly 34 million (89 percent) of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations, an increase of 2.1 percent over last year as a result of lower gas.

Air travel is expected to increase 1.6 percent over last year, with 2.6 million Americans taking to the skies this Memorial Day.

Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will fall 2.3 percent to 1.6 million travelers.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes will be 26 percent cheaper this Memorial Day, with an average roundtrip ticket costing $165. Hotel costs are in line with last Memorial Day. AAA three diamond rated hotels will average $183, while AAA two diamond rated hotels will average $151 nightly.

Daily car rental rates will average $62, which is 3 percent less than last year.

AAA expects to rescue more than 350,000 motorists during the Memorial Day holiday travel period. The primary reasons being dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires.

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