Gas Prices Continue to Rise; Doesn't Deter Holiday Travelers, AAA Finds

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 26, 2004 -- AAA reports the average price of self-serve regular unleaded gasoline in Washington ($2.307/gal) and Idaho ($2.079/gal) continue to increase as we head into the holiday weekend that kicks off the summer travel season. The national average for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline is $2.054 per gallon. The average price for both states and the nation are the highest averages ever recorded for those regions.

Despite the high gas prices, AAA auto travel counselors project an increase in Memorial Day weekend travel. AAA expects a record of 36.9 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend, a 3.6 percent increase over last year. Approximately 30.9 million travelers are expected to travel by motor vehicle. Washington and Idaho motorists are heading to the typical hot spots: the Oregon Coast, Yellowstone National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. Northwesterners are also hopping planes to Disneyland, San Francisco, and the East Coast for college and family visits.

To assist motorists in planning their holiday and summer driving trips, AAA has developed a Fuel Cost Calculator, available at www.aaa.com.

An additional interesting summer travel fact: AAA's national AAA Travel Agent Summer Travel Survey found that Seattle is the third most popular destination for domestic travelers this summer.

        Local Self-serve Regular Unleaded Fuel Prices

     City           Memorial Day      Easter       Memorial Day
                        2004           2004           2003

  Washington
   Bellingham          2.329         1.865         1.613
   Bremerton           2.285         1.830         1.576
   Olympia             2.314         1.852         1.576
   Seattle-Bellevue
     -Everett          2.351         1.851         1.634
   Spokane             2.180         1.817         1.567
   Tacoma              2.299         1.822         1.574
   Tri-Cities          2.216         1.821         1.597
   Vancouver           2.265         1.800         1.557
   Walla Walla         2.25          1.880         1.644
   Wenatchee           2.257         1.849          N/A
   Yakima              2.231         1.846         1.594

  Idaho
   Coeur d'Alene       2.169         1.786         1.657
   Lewiston            2.07          1.840         1.539

AAA Washington/Inland has been serving members since 1904. Today, the organization's members benefit by roadside assistance and other automotive programs, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available at the company's website at www.aaa.com.

AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator has been updated to include twice as many cities, National Parks and popular vacation destinations.