High Gas Prices Slow Growth of Memorial Day Travel This Year, Says LA Auto Club

LOS ANGELES--May 22, 2006--Nearly 3.1 million Southern Californians are planning getaways this holiday weekend -- a very small increase over last year that likely reflects anxiety over record gas prices, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Last year, 3.08 million Southland travelers took Memorial Day trips, and this year 3.09 million are expected to take holiday trips of at least 50 miles, according to a survey conducted on behalf of AAA. That's a 0.3 percent increase over last year.

Nearly 2.5 million, or 80 percent, of those travelers will drive to their destinations, while more than 450,000 are expected to fly and more than 154,000 will go by ship, bus, rail or other means.

"Memorial Day weekend over the last several years has coincided with record gas prices, and each year those records have reached higher levels," said Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp. "Now that travelers are paying $3.20 to $3.50 a gallon in the Southland on a regular basis, many of them are telling us that it's affecting the amount of money they can afford to spend on travel.

"However, while our members are cutting vacation budgets, they still want to go somewhere for the holiday, so they are choosing closer or more economical destinations, hotels, restaurants and entertainment," Thorp added.

Statewide, 4.94 million people are predicted to be traveling this weekend, compared to about 4.92 million travelers last year. Eighty percent of California travelers -- or nearly 4 million -- will travel by car, 723,000 will fly and 247,000 will go by other means.

The most popular destinations for Southern Californians this weekend, according to a survey of AAA Travel agents, are:

1)  Las Vegas
2)  San Diego
3)  San Francisco
4)  Grand Canyon
5)  Yosemite

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 and buying 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.