AAA Predicts Slight Increase in Memorial Day Travel

STL Today: More Americans are ready to travel for Memorial Day but high gas prices and airfares will force them to cut back on activities like dining and gambling.

That's the forecast from AAA. The auto club predicts that nearly 35 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over the long holiday weekend.

That's slightly more people than a year ago but less than the 35.3 million who traveled over Memorial Day in 2007 before the recession.

The auto club says 30.9 million people will travel by car and nearly 3 million by air.

Median trip spending is estimated at $692. About 31 percent will go towards fuel and other transportation costs.

Pump prices remain above $4 a gallon in some areas, although the national average is down near $3.90.