Memorial Day Travel to Be Up 1.5% Over ’08

May 13, 2009 by RV Business Leave a Comment

Nearly 11% of all Americans are expected to travel more than 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day weekend, according to a recent AAA survey. The expected 32.4 million holiday weekend travelers nationwide represent a 1.5% increase from 2008, according to the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun.

AAA released the travel estimates this week. In a news release about the nationwide survey used to make the prediction, club officials described the slight increase in travelers as ” reversing a year-long trend of declines during major holiday travel periods.”

The increase in likely travelers comes despite significant gas price hikes over the past few weeks. However, gasoline still costs about $2 a gallon less this year than at this time a year ago.

Driving somewhere for the holiday remains the most popular transportation choice, according to AAA’s survey. About 83%of all those planning to travel plan to drive, which is an increase of 2.5% from last year.

Another 7% of those planning to travel will fly somewhere and about 10%will use some other form of transportation like a bus or train.