Gasoline prices have hit their highest-ever levels in Iowa, but travel industry experts are still predicting a record number of motorists will be on the roads for the upcoming holiday weekend. Gene LaDoucer is spokesman for Triple-A-Iowa.
LaDoucer says, "We’re expecting to see 38-point-three million Americans traveling 50 miles or more this holiday season. That’s up about one-point-seven percent from last year." LaDoucer says while Iowans will be heading out in droves to their weekend destinations, many travelers are looking around for alternative modes of transportation and other ways to cut costs.
He says some smaller families might fly instead of driving, or they’ll stay in cheaper lodging, or shortening the vacation by a day to save a few hundred dollars. LaDoucer says another way for Memorial Day weekend travelers to trim down their travel budgets is to stay closer to home.
He says, "What we generally see is people visit state parks or national parks in the area or maybe just stay within the state they’re living." LaDoucer predicts there won’t be any relief from the record high gas prices, not anytime soon at least.
He says: "Unfortunately, we keep seeing reports that gas prices will continue to move higher as we approach Memorial Day and possibly shortly thereafter. At some point, we expect gasoline usage to decline and refineries to finally catch up." Triple-A estimates the average price for gas statewide at a record three-34 a gallon, that’s 15-cents higher than the national average.