AAA says many will be going by car, even with high gasoline prices.
Baltimore, Md. (KM) – It looks like higher gasoline prices are not deterring Marylanders from taking to the roads this holiday weekend. “AAA is projecting that over 977,000 Marylanders will be traveling 50-miles or more over this upcoming 4th of July holiday period,” says Ragina Ali, Public and Government Affairs Manager for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “It’s a slight increase–a 2% increase–compared to last year.”
She says most Marylanders–about 880,000 or 90% of travelers–plan to go by car.
The Independence Day Travel weekend is between Thursday, June 30th and Monday, July 4th.
Ali says this desire to travel on the part of most Marylanders comes despite high gasoline prices. AAA says the average price of unleaded regular gasoline, as of Tuesday, currently stands at $4.83 per gallon, a decrease of 11-cents in the past week. In Frederick, the average price at the pump is $4.80 per gallon, a 13-cent increase week over week.
Even with high gas prices, Ali says most Marylanders who plan to travel have a strong desire to get away. “We absolutely believe that there is still a very great deal of pent up demand,” she says. “At AAA earlier this year, we started seeing the demand for travel increase even more than it had last year.”
Ali says if you are traveling by car, you need to make sure your vehicle is road ready. It will reduce the amount of times your vehicle breaks down while in route to your vacation spot. “Across the country, we expect to come to the rescue of more 446,000 members nationwide for roadside assistance this weekend. That includes more than 7800 calls on Maryland roadways,” she says.
And if you’re planning to fly to your vacation spot, Ali says give yourself ample time to get to the airport. . “Like everywhere else, it’s going to be busy. We know. that. We’re expecting that probably the busiest day for air travel is going to be Friday. So again, give yourself plenty of time,” she says.
AAA recommends you travel during off peak hours.
By Kevin McManus
