Low Gas Prices Prompts Record Number of Memorial Day Travelers

Thanks to low gas prices, lots of people will be hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend.

AAA estimates over 1 million North Carolinians will travel by car, the highest Memorial Day travel volume on record.

Another 80,000 North Carolinians are expected to travel by air, up 1.6 percent from last year.

Tiffany Wright is with AAA Carolinas. She contributed the uptick in travel to the lowest gas prices in years.

“We’re paying the least amount of money for gas that we’ve paid in a decade so that’s a big positive.”

The average price of gasoline in North Carolina is $2.21, which 37 cents less than last year.

Top travel destinations include Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Orlando, Florida for those hitting the road. There’s also a new road trip destination in the mix.

“What’s new to our list this year is Denver, Colorado,” Wright said. “And you can correlate that directly with the fact that folks are saving so much money with gas.”

According to a recent AAA poll, 55 percent of North Carolinians are more likely to take a road trip this year due to lower gas prices.

But for those flying, Alaska and the Caribbean are among the most popular vacation spots. AAA says the top domestic flights will cost 26 percent less than last year.

“Air travel’s increased and we have more folks flying to their destinations so the fact of the matter is they’re going to be paying a lot less than they have in recent years,” said Wright.

Wright suggested that anyone planning long road trips check the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s website for the most up-to-date road conditions and construction information.

She also said this weekend’s traffic will give drivers a sneak peek into the summer’s travel trends.

“We do predict that it’s going to be a busy travel season that’s going to head all the way through July fourth and through Labor Day.”

Wright urged drivers to stay safe on the roadways this weekend. One of the best ways to do this, she said, is to eliminate distractions behind the wheel.

“We like to say ‘disconnect and drive.’ Get behind the wheel and don’t be worried about your cell phone and all your social media platforms. Do what you’re meant to do when you get behind the wheel, and that’s to drive the car.”

With more than one million North Carolina drivers hitting the road this weekend, safety is a top concern.