ORLANDO, Fla. -- A summer that brought record high gas prices and travel approaching pre-9/11 levels will end with potentially record high Labor Day holiday travel, according to a national survey sponsored by the American Automobile Association. AAA estimates that 34.1 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a 2.2 percent increase from last year's record-matching 33.4 million travelers.
Approximately 28.7 million travelers (84 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 2 percent increase from the 28.1 million drivers a year ago.
Another 3.9 million (11 percent of holiday travelers) plan to fly, up 4 percent from the 3.7 million fliers last Labor Day. A projected 1.5 million vacationers (5 percent) will go by train, bus, or other mode of transportation, about even with a year ago.
"This strong summer travel season appears headed for a strong Labor Day finale that might set records," said Sandra Hughes, vice president of AAA travel.
Holiday auto travelers will find gas prices nationwide averaging $1.87 for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline, about 15 cents higher than the then-record levels hit last Labor Day.
"The current high gas prices won't keep people off the highways this holiday," said Hughes. "American vacationers have taken to the roads in droves this summer, despite gas prices that hit new records at Memorial Day and have run at historic highs all summer long."
Improved confidence, widespread discount airfares, and increased confidence in travel security have helped spur the strong summer travel, according to AAA.
The greatest number of auto travelers will originate in the West with 7 million, followed by the Southeast, 6.8 million; Midwest, 5.5 million; Northeast, 4.9 million; and Great Lakes, 4.5 million.
The survey of 1,300 adults was conducted for AAA by the Travel Industry Association of America.
