AAA predicts no growth in holiday travel

summer evening by the pond

Travelers wary of rising gas prices are expected to mark Memorial Day closer to home than in years past, according to AAA Carolinas.

The travel club cites requests for advice on shorter trips and less expensive accommodations for the prediction.

AAA estimated that 805,500 North Carolina drivers will travel more than 50 miles from home this weekend. That total is unchanged from 2007, the first time in 10 years that there has not been an annual increase.

Nationally, travel is expected to decline about one percent.

Gas prices are up 62 cents per gallon in North Carolina over this time last year.

Record high oil prices have also raised the price of airline travel and dining out.

The most expensive gas in the state can be found in Charlotte and Asheville, where regular unleaded averaged $3.78 per gallon Tuesday. Winston-Salem was least expensive at $3.73.


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