34M+ Will Hit The Road In U.S. This Weekend
By Susie Jones, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The American Automobile Association projects 34.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a slight increase of 0.2 percent -– or about 100,000 travelers -– from the number of people who traveled one year ago.
"An improvement in the overall domestic economic outlook from one year ago should cause more Americans to take vacations this coming holiday weekend," said Jennifer Brownlee, AAA Minneapolis spokesperson.
Minnesotans are expected to predominately travel by automobile, with 90 percent of respondents indicating a motor vehicle as their preferred mode of transportation.
Almost nine out of ten holiday travelers will take to the nation's roadways during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
The state average price for regular gasoline is $3.88, compared to $2.77 this time last year.
Mike Karstens and his family are travelling through the Twin Cities from Kansas. He says gas prices have not stopped them from taking the trip.
"A little bit yes, but it's a trip we wanted to take so we are doing it anyway," Karstens said.
Pamela Evans is heading to Alexandria to see a winery. She said the price of gas is not keeping her from the trip, but the weather might.
"But it's not snowing, or raining yet, so it's really nice," she said. "Get together with friends, honor our Veterans."
Memorial Day is seen as the unofficial beginning of the summer season.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Susie Jones Reports
