Labor Day Travel Expected to Rise, Despite High Gas Prices

    AURORA, Ill., Aug. 28 The AAA-Chicago Motor Club expects
an estimated 33.2 million people to travel more than 50 miles from home this
Labor Day Holiday.  This year's holiday projections are up slightly from the
32.6 million estimated to have traveled last year, despite a recent spike in
Midwest gasoline prices.

    "Labor day represents a unique travel opportunity for families to take a
short trip away from home before many children return to school.  A struggling
economy and high gasoline prices doesn't seem to be hampering people's desire
to spend the labor day weekend away from home," said Steve Nolan, spokesperson
for the AAA-Chicago Motor Club.

    An estimated 27.7 million people are expected to travel by motor vehicle
and 5.5 million are expected to travel by air, train or bus.

    Seven million auto travelers are expected to originate in the West,
6.6 million in the Southeast, 5.3 million in the Midwest, 4.5 million in the
Northeast and 4.3 million in the Great Lakes.

    The most popular destinations for travelers are cities, oceans and
beaches, and are followed by towns or rural areas.  Other popular travel
destinations include mountains, lakes, national parks and amusement/theme
parks.

    Forty-two percent of travelers spending at least one night away from home
say they plan on staying in a hotel or motel, 31 percent say they will be
staying with a friend or relative.

    AAA's Labor Day travel projections are based on a national survey
conducted by the Travel Industry Association.