Even though gasoline prices have fallen significantly from July’s peak retail levels, the summer travel season could close with its third consecutive decline in holiday travel this year if the projected number of people traveling for Labor Day Weekend is accurate. 

Nationwide, 34.4 million Americans are projected to travel a distance of at least 50 miles from home and that number represents a 1.1 percent decline in the total number of travelers from Labor Day, 2007. Travel figures for Memorial Weekend and Independence Day were also down compared to last year.

In the Southeast, the number of people traveling over the holiday weekend will likely be down by 0.6 percent compared to last year, based on a national phone survey of more than 2,000 adults contacted for AAA by the Travel Industry Association of America.  Also in the Southeast, the number of people who stated they will drive is down by 0.8 percent, while the number of people who said they will travel by plane is down by 3.7 percent compared to last year.

The greatest number of Labor Day weekend travelers will originate in the West with 9 million; followed by the Southeast, 8 million; Midwest, 6.3 million; Northeast, 6 million; and Great Lakes, 5.1 million.