Memorial Day travel predictions unchanged from 2010

Expect plenty of company this Memorial Day weekend if you’re hitting the highways,  AAA predicts another busy holiday despite higher gas prices.

 

The car club says the number of travels will be similar to last year’s, which was a 14% increase over 2009.  More than 95,000 Delawareans are expected to travel more than 50 miles from home at some point over the holiday weekend, which for the purpose of the AAA prediction is defined as Thursday through Memorial Day Monday, May 30. 

“After another long winter and rainy spring, Delawareans are ready to travel to usher in the summer season,” says AAA’s Jim Lardear.  He says while gas prices are still high, drivers will save money elsewhere during their trip, rather than canceling their drive all together.  “Some travelers will cut travel distances or use an alternate mode of transportation, leading toa double-digit increase in air-travel, while others will stay at less expensive hotels and dine at less expensive restaurants.”  

Nationally, nearly 35 milliion Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend.  That’s a 0.2% increase or 100,000 more travelers than 2010.

NUMBER OF TRAVELERS	Total Population	2011 Travelers	% population traveling	% change vs. 2010
Delaware TOTAL <auto, air & other>	885,122	95,593	10.8%	0.1%
Delaware Auto		85,856	9.7%	-0.5%
Delaware Air		6,196	0.9%	11.3%
National TOTAL	313.5 million*	34.9 million	11.1%	0.2%
National Auto		30.9 million	9.9%	-0.3%
National Air		2.9 million	0.9%	11.5%

*U.S. Census Bureau/HIS Global Insight