This Memorial Day weekend, Americans will be skipping the souvenir T-shirt. More travelers are expected to hit the road than have since the Great Recession. But they’ll be keeping a grip on their wallets thanks to higher gas prices. The typical family plans to spend $692, a decrease of 14 percent from 2010’s $809.
“You’ll see people eating sandwiches out the cooler instead of going into a restaurant,” said Susanne Pelt, spokeswoman for the South of the Border roadside attraction in South Carolina.
AAA projects 34.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home — a slight increase of 100,000 travelers from last year and the highest number since 2007. Rising gas prices are on the minds of 40 percent of travelers, with many planning to take shorter trips or otherwise conserve money. The Associated Press
