Memorial Day Travelers Keep An Eye On Gas Prices
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Prices at the pump are rising again for Americans.
As Tim Williams reports, many still plan to travel for the Memorial Day weekend, but distance may be a factor.
Despite record high gas prices, many Americans still plan to travel for the Memorial Day weekend. Others, like Gary Welsh, are staying close to home.
"Would love to go away but I can't afford the gas prices," Welsh said.
"Today's average in Maryland is $3.66. That's actually down 30 cents from a month ago and down five cents from a week ago. The national average is $3.72 a gallon," said Ragina Averella, AAA Mid-Atlantic.
AAA projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day weekend, an increase of half a million travelers from last year.
"The good news is that we're seeing gas prices come down, just as they typically go up usually. But nothing about this year in gas prices has been typical," Averella said.
More than 2.5 million holiday vacationers are traveling by air. That number is a decline of 5.5 percent from last year. So as those travelers hit the road---with an average distance of 642 miles round trip---the future may be looking up and the gas prices may be going down.
"Many analysts believe we have actually seen the peak of the prices and that motorists may continue to see prices in this range and, in fact, maybe lower," Averella said.
The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 24, to Monday, May 28.
