Thursday 26 May 2022 11:22 PM Memorial Day Weekend US: 39.2MILLION to hit the road or fly in a great escape ... trends now
A record number of Americans are set to travel to celebrate this Memorial Day Weekend despite surging gas prices across the nation.
More than 39.2million people are expected to hit the road as gas prices reach an average of $4.60 nationally - 47 cents more than just a month ago.
In California, gas prices topped $6, as many retailers refuse to purchase Russian oil because of its invasion of Ukraine.
More than 3million people are also expected to fly between Thursday and Monday, despite return ticket prices nearly 40percent up from the same time last year.
The TSA warned that there might be more travelers than before the pandemic.
Rising gas and flight prices coincide with a COVID-19 surge that has led to case counts that are as high as they've been since mid-February.
The true case numbers are likely much higher because of unreported positive home test results and asymptomatic infections.
The average gas price in the U.S. on Thursday was $4.60 per gallon, according to AAA figures.
AAA estimates that 39.2 million people in the U.S. will travel 50 miles or more from home during the holiday weekend.
More than 39million people are expected to hit the road as gas prices reach an average of $4.60 nationally - 47 cents more than just a month ago (Pictured: rush hour in Philadelphia in April 2019)
Gas prices in California topped $6 but across the country it was on average $4.60 per gallon as motorists continue to be stung at the bowser
More than 12million people are also expected to fly between Thursday and Monday despite return ticket prices nearly 40percent up from the same time last year
The average gas price in the U.S. on Thursday was $4.60 per gallon, according to AAA figure
Those projections - which include travel by car, plane and other modes of transportation such as trains or cruise ships - are up 8.3percent from 2021 and would bring Memorial Day travel volumes close to 2017 levels.
The estimates are still below pre-pandemic 2019 levels, a peak year for travel.
About 88percent of those 39.2 million travelers - a record number - are expected to go by car over the long weekend even as gas prices remain high, according to AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross.
In California - despite being home to the nation's highest gas prices - the state's nonprofit tourism agency also predicts a busy summer for the Golden State, beginning this weekend.
For Marvin Harper, of Phoenix, his family's weekend travel plans are a double punch to the wallet.
His college-age son and daughter each have a soccer tournament in
