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Despite Rising Gas Prices, More Americans Planning Memorial Day Travel

Locations in this article:  Chicago, IL Indianapolis, IN Las Vegas, NV London, England Miami, FL San Diego, CA

Pay At The Pump...A Lot. Despite gas prices, Americans are making travel plans for Memorial Day weekend.Gas prices may be on the rise, but that’s not going to deter summer travelers.

Gas is estimated to hit $4.25 a gallon nationally by Memorial Day this year, a drastic increase from last year’s average of $2.78 a gallon.

AAA’s annual Memorial Day travel forecast projects 34.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home over the holiday weekend, a slight increase of 0.2 percent from last year.

A recent TripAdvisor survey shows 33 percent of Americans are planning a Memorial Day weekend trip, up from 29 percent last year.

Overall, summer travel is on the rise. The Air Transport Association (ATA) has reported that an average of 2.24 million people will fly every day this summer, which is an increase of 34,000 travelers a day when compared to last year. International travel will reach record numbers, says the ATA, with U.S. carriers predicted to carry  roughly 3 million (1.5 percent) more passengers from June through August compared to the same period in 2010.

According to a survey from Priceline, Chicago and Las Vegas continue to be the most popular destinations for U.S. travelers. Other top Memorial Day weekend destinations include Seattle, San Diego, New York City, and Miami.

Snag a deal on a last-minute trip: Weekly Travel Deals: Memorial Day Travel Deals Including Beaches, Diving & Illicit Fishing

Gas Prices Soar In Summer, But American Stay Cool With TravelIndianapolis and, somewhat surprisingly, London, are also on travelers’ radars this year. Indianapolis is a top 10 Memorial Day weekend destination due in a large part to the Indianapolis 500. London’s appearance on the list is a departure from last year when there were no overseas cities in the top 50.

Priceline’s travel expert Brian Ek credits the recent Royal Wedding for the boost.

What’s not surprising, however, is that many drive-to destinations––Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Washington, D.C., for example––are conspicuously absent from Priceline’s list, likely due to rising prices at the pump.

In a recent Orbitz study, 63 percent of people surveyed said gas prices were a factor in their summer travel.

Between increased fuel prices and higher demand, travelers can expect to see higher prices on airfare this summer, but most Americans seem prepared: A recent USA Today/Gallup Poll showed that 71 percent of Americans who will be traveling this summer plan to spend more on transportation this year.

By Lily J. Kosner for PeterGreenberg.com.

Sources: AAA NewsroomCBS Local ChicagoMSNBCPR NewswireFOX-19GallupUSA Today

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