An auto club has predicted that 37.2 million Americans will be traveling to various destinations for this year's Memorial Day Weekend. The AAA said that the anticipated volume, which is about a 4.7 percent increase from last year, is the highest predicted figure since 2005, according to The Hill.
"Following a harsh winter, many Americans are trading in their snow boots for flip flops and making plans to start the season with a vacation getaway. AAA is expecting more Memorial Day travelers this year than any time in the past 10 years as confident consumers come out of hibernation ready to explore national parks, beach destinations and America's great cities," Marshall Doney, the president of AAA, said in a statement.
Part of the reason for the increase in travel is due to gas prices being a full dollar lower since last yearand the cheapest since five years ago, according to Boston.com.
"We would expect that prices will push up another 2-4 cents by Memorial Day Weekend. But it should be a summer of cheaper gas," said analyst Jeff Pelton from GasBuddy, in the Boston.com report.
About 33 million travelers are expected to be hitting the road over the Memorial Day weekend, while at least 5.3 percent are expected to travel by air.
Memorial Day officially takes place on the last Monday of May (May 25, 2015), but Americans usually begin their travels as early as Thursday (May 21) to avoid traffic. Travel activities will continue through Monday.
All travelers are advised to prepare and mind traffic rules, particularly with driving while texting or driving while intoxicated. State police will be on the roads to crack down on erring drivers.
