Following a summer with record fuel prices, the family travel season may
end with record Labor Day holiday travel, according to the AAA.
The 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. About 28.7 million travelers
(84 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a
2.0 percent increase from the 28.1 million who drove a year ago.
AAA’s Wisconsin spokesman said, “Vacationers took 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.” Gas prices remain
relatively stable but high, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge
Report, www.fuelgaugereport.com.
Oceans and beaches top the list of preferred destinations this
holiday with 26 percent of the travel volume. Small towns and rural
areas took a close second with 21 percent, followed by cities, 16
percent. Outdoor attractions rate high with lakes, 12 percent;
mountains, 10 percent; and state/national parks, 4 percent.
Theme/amusement parks, 3 percent, rounded out the list while another 5
percent responded with other, and 3 percent said they didn’t know.
Around 13 percent of Labor Day travelers expect to stay in a
camper/trailer/RV/tent.
