Labor Day Travelers Will Cap Off Summer in Increased Numbers, Says Auto Club

LOS ANGELES--Aug. 3, 20040, 2004--Almost 4.8 million Californians -- a 2.2 percent increase over last year -- will be taking end-of-summer getaways this holiday weekend, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Nearly 3 million of the travelers will be from Southern California.

Driving trips will make up 78 percent of all Labor Day getaways, with 3.7 million statewide and 2.3 million Southern Californians expected to drive to their holiday destinations. That's a 2 percent increase in Labor Day vehicle getaways compared to last year, when 3.65 million statewide and 2.28 million locally made driving trips of 50 miles or more. Also, more than 800,000 Californians and nearly 510,000 Southland residents are projected to fly to their destinations -- a 3.1 percent increase over last year.

"Travel bargains have helped increase the popularity of air destinations such as the East Coast and Florida," said Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp. "But driving destinations are still by far the most popular on three-day weekends like Labor Day."

The most popular driving destinations for Southern Californians, according to a survey of the Auto Club's AAA Travel agents, are:

1) Las Vegas
2) Yosemite
3) San Diego
4) San Francisco
5) Grand Canyon/Sedona, Ariz.

Many travelers are also flying or cruising to Mexico, heading to Hawaii, or taking advantage of the bargains to Florida, New York and other East Coast cities.

Southern California auto travelers can expect average gas prices of more than $2 a gallon, as they have experienced all summer. Prices have fallen from record highs around Memorial Day, but began inching up again slightly last week.

The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa.com.