AAA Chicago Projects Number of Memorial Day Travelers to Increase 5.4 Percent

AURORA, Ill., May 20 /PRNewswire/ -- AAA today projected the number of Americans traveling on vacation this Memorial Day holiday weekend will increase 5.4 percent from 2009 with approximately 32.1 million travelers taking a trip away from home. Last year, 30.5 million Americans traveled during the same period.

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Nearly 28 million people, or 87 percent of all travelers are expected to travel by motor vehicle, which is up 5.8 percent from 2009, even though gas prices are averaging $.85 higher than 2009 across the US. About 2.15 million, or 6.7 percent of all travelers plan to fly this holiday weekend.

"With the current economic environment stronger than one year ago, more people will be encouraged to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend," said Brad Roeber, Regional President of AAA Chicago. "AAA and many of our travel industry partners are experiencing improved business conditions this spring."

In Illinois, 1.74 million people will be traveling for the holiday weekend, which is an 8.3 percent increase over 2009. Of those travelers, just over 1.5 million will be driving and just under 100,000 will be flying to their destination. Gas prices across Illinois are on average $2.97, up $.50 from 2009.

In Indiana, just under 700,000 people are expected to travel, which is an 8 percent increase over 2009. Of those, 616,000 are expected to travel by auto and about 40,000 by air. In Indiana, gas prices are on average $2.75, $.39 more than this time last year.

The average distance traveled by Americans this Memorial Day holiday weekend is forecast to be approximately the same as one year ago; 626 miles vs. 620 in 2009, AAA reported. Median spending is estimated to be $809 this Memorial Day.  

According to AAA's Leisure Travel Index, air fares over the Memorial Day holiday weekend are expected to remain unchanged from last year as air passengers will pay a lowest average fare of $176 per round-trip ticket. Weekend daily car rental rates will drop 15 percent from an average of $43.30 in 2009 to $36.65. Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to remain a bargain, but will decline only one percent from one year ago with travelers spending an average of $141.60 per night compared to $142.45 last year.

AAA's projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. The complete AAA / IHS Global Insight 2010 Memorial Day holiday forecast can be found at AAA.com/news.

SOURCE AAA