Explosive travel weekend expected
Some 40.3 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles or more from home during the long Fourth of July weekend — the highest ever for a holiday weekend, according to AAA.
About 33.9 million Americans, or 84 percent, will travel by motor vehicle, a 2.6 percent increase from the 33.1 million who drove a year ago. Another 4.6 million will travel by airplane and 1.8 million by train, bus or other means.
“This will not only be the most heavily-traveled Fourth of July ever, but this long weekend will actually put more American vacationers on the road than even the granddaddy of holiday travel weekends — Thanksgiving,” said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes. “Higher prices for gasoline and increased competition for hotel rooms this holiday will do little to reduce Americans’ desire to travel.”
Holiday travelers will find gas prices nationwide currently averaging $2.16 for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline — up three cents from a month ago and about 21 cents higher than a year ago.
Other travel costs also have increased, according to the AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. The largest increase is in car rental rates, which are up 12.8 percent.
Hotel rooms are more expensive and in short supply this holiday weekend, and last-second deals could be hard to come by, Hughes said.
“If you wait too long, there might not even be rooms left in some destinations,” Hughes said.
AAA suggests that you book a hotel room now, as 37 percent of the total holiday travelers expect to stay at a hotel or motel and 31 percent with relatives or friends. A smaller percentage will stay in campers, RVs, tents, cabins and condos.
More: laramieboomerang.com
