HEATHROW, Fla., May 28 (UPI) -- Officials with Florida-based AAA said 32.1 million U.S. residents are expected to travel during Memorial Day weekend, a 5.4 percent increase from last year.
The 2010 Memorial Day travel forecast, based on research from Boston research and consulting firm IHS Global Insight, forecasts 87 percent of travelers will take automobiles to their destinations, while 7 percent are expected to fly and 6 percent will take trains, watercraft and other means, AAA officials said.
"While the economy continues to be rocked by waves of occasional uncertainty, improved economic performance from one year ago should cause more Americans to take vacations this Memorial Day holiday weekend," AAA Travel Services director Glen MacDonell said. "AAA travel agents are reporting double-digit increases in the percentage of travelers making advanced bookings for tours and cruises, hotel bookings via AAA.com are increasing and AAA's many travel industry partners have reported improved business conditions this spring."
The organization said gas prices are not expected to average more than $3 per gallon during the weekend.
