37.2 million to travel for Memorial Day

Travel group AAA is forecasting 37.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home for the Memorial Day holiday weekend this year.

That’s a 4.7 percent increase from the 35.5 million people who traveled for the holiday in 2014, and the highest volume of travelers in 10 years for a Memorial Day holiday weekend, AAA said.

The majority of travelers, 33 million people, will travel by car for the holiday, which this year is defined as May 21 to May 25.

Travel by air is expected to climb 2.5 percent to 2.6 million travelers this year, while the number of people opting for alternative modes of transportation such as trains, buses and cruises will decrease 3.6 percent to 1.64 million people. AAA said.

The good news for drivers is that most will probably pay the lowest Memorial Day gas prices in at least five years, given that the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gas is about $1 less than a year ago at $2.66, AAA said.

“Low pump prices are making auto travel more appealing, which explains the decline in use of ‘other modes of transportation’ like bus and train,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said in a news release. “The price of gas often declines heading into the Memorial Day weekend. That will likely happen again this year, as long as oil prices stop rising.”

Drivers renting vehicles however, will find higher average daily car rental rates and pricier hotel rooms this Memorial Day holiday travel season, while airfares are trending slightly lower than in 2014.

“Americans have more money in their pockets this year due to rising wages and lower gas prices,” said Brent Stahlheber, AAA’s senior vice president, brand marketing and travel. “Those factors, coupled with other improvements in the overall economic picture, should help generate the highest traveled Memorial Day holiday in a decade. This is welcome news for the travel industry, which should see this upward momentum carry into the summer.”