Memorial Day Travel A Bit Cheaper This Year

May 27, 2012

Memorial Day weekend travel was a little easier on the wallet this year, with gas prices creeping downward.

According to the AAA Fuel Gage Report, the average cost of a gallon of regular unleaded in Escambia County was $3.37 headed into the long weekend, down from $3.76 a year ago. In North Escambia Saturday night, that gallon of gas was as low as $3.27 at the RaceWay on Highway 29 and Muscogee Road in Cantonment, the Tom Thumb in Cantonment and few other stations.

AAA projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 1.2 percent – or 500,000 travelers – from the 34.3 million people who traveled one year ago. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 24 to Monday, May 28.

Approximately 30.7 million people plan to drive to their destination, an increase of 1.2 percent from the 30.3 million who drove last year.  Almost nine out of ten holiday travelers (88 percent) will take to the nation’s roadways during the Memorial Day weekend keeping automobile travel in the traditional lead as the dominate mode of holiday travel transportation.

A survey of intended travelers found that 53 percent said recent increases in gasoline prices would not impact their Memorial Day holiday travel plans. Of the remaining 47 percent of travelers who said gas prices would impact their travel plans, nine percent are planning to take a shorter trip, four percent will travel by an alternate mode of transportation and 34 percent will economize in other areas. Those who intend to economize in other areas plan to reduce spending on entertainment (65 percent), stay at a lower priced hotel (34 percent), stay with friends and relatives instead of reserving a hotel room (31 percent) or stay in a hotel that includes value-added amenities like free breakfast and internet (27 percent).

National gasoline prices may have peaked in April despite seasonal highs in early spring when motorists experienced average price increases for all but four days in February and March. April experienced a full reversal as prices fell for 23 of 30 days during the month, helping to break a streak of 911 days since the national average price was lower than the previous year. The current national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is approximately 25 cents lower than this time last year.

Comments

One Response to “Memorial Day Travel A Bit Cheaper This Year”

  1. FHG on May 28th, 2012 2:00 am

    It’s down to $3.25 at Bindu’s on Muscogee Rd 2 1/2 miles west of IP.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News