Record fuel prices and tough economic times alter travel plans for some Americans

AAA projects the number of Americans traveling during the Memorial Day holiday will drop slightly compared to the previous year. AAA estimates that 37.87 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, a decrease of nearly 360,000 travelers (0.9 percent) from last year's total of 38.23 million.

Nearly 31.7 million Americans (83 percent of holiday travelers) are expected to travel by automobile, a one percent decrease from the approximately 32 million people who drove a year ago.

Almost 4.35 million (11 percent of holiday travelers) plan to fly

- a decrease of 0.5 percent from last year. About 1.8 million intend to travel by train, bus or other mode of transportation.

"Many Americans are feeling a financial pinch from record high gasoline prices and other factors in the economy," said Gail Weinholzer, director of public affairs. "Despite the small decrease, more than 12 percent of the U.S. population will be traveling away from home."

"Countless businesses across the country depend on summer leisure travelers for a large portion of their annual revenue. High gasoline prices appear to be dampening American's intent to travel this summer," Weinholzer said.

According to AAA's Leisure Travel Index, air fares during the holiday weekend are expected to rise eight percent from last year as air passengers will pay an average $179. Car rental rates will climb higher with consumers paying an average of $45 per day compared to $31 a year ago, an increase of 45 percent. Hotel rates for AAA 3 Diamond hotels are expected to be seven percent less than last year with travelers spending an average of $162 per night. However, travelers planning to stay at AAA 2 Diamond hotels will pay an average of $112 per night, nine percent more than a year ago.

AAA Minnesota/Iowa, which includes more than 778,000 members, offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group, the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 51 million members in the United States and Canada.