The American Automobile Association office in Syracuse says AAA is projecting 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

This represents an increase of 1.2 percent – or 500,000 travelers – from the 34.3 million people who traveled one year ago. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined this year as Thursday, May 24 to Monday, May 28.

“While the overall domestic economic picture continues to improve slightly, American consumers faced a new challenge this year as steadily increasing gas prices throughout the spring significantly squeezed many household budgets,” said Wally Smith, Vice President of AAA Western and Central New York. “Americans will still travel during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, but many will compensate for reduced travel budgets by scaling back in other areas on their trips.”

Automobile remains the transportation choice, up 1.2 percent.

Approximately 30.7 million people plan to drive to their destination, an increase of 1.2 percent from the 30.3 million who drove last year. Almost nine out of 10 holiday travelers (88 percent) will take to the nation’s roadways during the Memorial Day weekend, keeping automobile travel in the traditional lead as the dominant mode of holiday travel transportation.

A survey of intended travelers found that 53 percent said recent increases in gasoline prices would not impact their Memorial Day holiday travel plans. Of the remaining 47 percent of travelers who said gas prices would impact their travel plans, nine percent are planning to take a shorter trip, four percent will travel by an alternate mode of transportation and 34 percent will economize in other areas.

Those who intend to economize plan to reduce spending on entertainment (65 percent), stay at a lower priced hotel (34 percent), stay with friends and relatives instead of reserving a hotel room (31 percent) or stay in a hotel that includes value-added amenities like free breakfast and internet (27 percent).

The Syracuse area average price stands at $3.91 today, down five cents from a week ago. In the Finger Lakes and Rochester area, the average price is $3.96, also down five cents from last week. Motorists throughout the state can expect to pay an average of $3.99 at the pump. The national average price for regular gasoline is $3.72, compared to $3.96 this time last year.

More than 2.5 million leisure air travelers (over seven percent of holiday travelers) will fly during the holiday weekend, a 5.5 percent decrease from last year’s 2.7 million air travelers. The remaining 4.5 percent of holiday travelers are expected to travel by other modes, including rail, bus and watercraft.

According to a survey of traveler intentions, the average distance traveled by Americans during the Memorial Day holiday weekend is expected to be 642 miles, which is 150 miles less than last year’s average travel distance of 792 miles. Higher gasoline prices earlier in the year are causing some consumers to travel closer to home and the decline in expected air travel is also a factor in the distance decrease. Median spending is expected to be $702, only slightly more than the $692 median spending last year.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, Memorial Day holiday airfares are expected to be seven percent lower than last year with an average lowest round-trip rate of $189 for the top 40 U.S. air routes. Low cost carriers such as Spirit and Frontier contributed to the average cost decline with airfares. Hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase eight percent from a year ago with travelers spending an average of $160 per night compared to $148 last year. Travelers planning to stay at AAA Two Diamond hotels can expect to pay 10 percent more with an average cost of $120 per night. Weekend daily car rental rates will average $36, four percent ($2) less than last year.