AAA: High Gas Prices Won't Keep Oklahomans From Memorial Day Travel

NewsOn6.com

UNDATED -- High gas prices aren't expected to keep Oklahoma drivers off the road Memorial Day weekend, according to a release from AAA. The automobile safety organization predicts that 34.9 Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home over the holiday weekend – a slight increase from the 34.8 million who did so last year.

"In 2010, Memorial Day travel experienced a gain of more than 14 percent. This year we expect to add slightly to that gain due to an anticipated increase in air travel and an improvement in the overall domestic economic picture," said AAA Oklahoma spokesman Chuck Mai.

"Many travelers have told us they'll compensate for higher fuel costs by cutting back in other areas of spending."

In Oklahoma, AAA expects 499,000 motorists will take to the highways over the holiday period which is defined as running from Thursday, May 29 to Monday, May 30.

In spite of gasoline prices more than a dollar per gallon higher than a year ago across Oklahoma and the U.S., auto travel continues to be the dominant mode of transportation. Almost nine out of 10 holiday travelers (89 percent) will be getting there by motor vehicle during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The national average price on Thursday, May 19 for regular self-serve gasoline, according to AAA's FuelGaugeReport.com, is $3.905 per gallon, compared to $2.852 this time last year.

In Oklahoma, the statewide average for regular gasoline today is $3.769. On May 19, 2010, the average was $2.717.

A survey of intended travelers found that six out of 10 said rising gasoline prices would not impact their travel plans. Of the remaining four out of t10 travelers who said rising gas prices would impact their travel plans, 70 percent will economize in other areas and the rest will take a shorter trip or travel by an alternate mode of transportation.