But, fuel costs bring shorter holiday drive as travel may post first drop in 10 years
Hit the road
Fuel costs bring shorter holiday drive as travel may post first drop in 10 years

By Jennifer Palmer

Published: July 2, 2008

The cost of gasoline may cause some people to choose their couch over the lake this Fourth of July.

Many families are cancelling their travel plans and overall Fourth of July travel is expected to drop for the first time this decade, according to AAA.

About 40.45 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for the holiday, a decrease of 1.3 percent from last year. AAA estimates that 493,000 Oklahomans will travel this weekend, down 1 percent from a year ago.

That's still hundreds of thousands of state residents who will hit the road, despite the price at the gasoline pump. With the holiday falling on a Friday this year, it's even easier to enjoy the long weekend away from home.

"People still want to get away. It's become an American right,” said state Tourism Director Hardy Watkins.

According to a survey sponsored by MapQuest, 66 percent of respondents nationwide say they altered their vacation plans because of gasoline prices, with 34 percent cancelling plans altogether. Another 37 percent have opted to take shorter trips, according to the survey.

As seen over the Memorial Day weekend, many travelers will stay close to home by vacationing at state parks and lakes rather than traveling out of state. Reservations for campgrounds and cabins at Oklahoma's state parks are nearly at capacity, and Watkins said he expects them to sell out.

Most visitors will come from 350 miles away or less, he said. Nationally, more than half of motorists are unwilling to take road trips more than 100 miles, according to the MapQuest survey.

The majority of Oklahomans will be traveling by motor vehicle for the Fourth of July (nearly 88 percent), but many others will board airplanes.

Will Rogers World Airport already has seen heavy summer traffic, and travel for this weekend will be no different, said Scott Keith, assistant director of airports. Many travelers are still using tickets that were purchased before recent fare increases, he said.

Holiday traffic at Tulsa International Airport started picking up last weekend, with many travelers spending the entire week on vacation, said Alexis Higgins, airport spokeswoman.

Northwest, American and Delta airlines all reported increased passengers last weekend, she said, and Sunday and Monday will be busy with people returning home.

Although it's difficult for airports to determine where most travelers are ultimately headed, Southwest Airlines spokesman Chris Mainz said Corpus Christi and Harlingen, Texas, are popular locales.

"It's safe to say a lot of people are going to the beach,” he said.

"Consumers this summer are value-conscious. There are fears about the economy, that's no secret,” Watkins said.

Campgrounds are an attractive vacation locale because they are relatively inexpensive compared to staying in a hotel, he said.

For travelers who choose hotels, many will be taking advantage of bargains offered to lure last-minute guests.

"Gas prices are continuing to take a toll on travel budgets, but the travel industry is responding, as they have in the past, with discounts, promotions and other incentives to inspire people to travel this year,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma.

Also, the Internet is becoming an indispensable tool is searching for bargains.

According to the MapQuest survey, 24 percent of consumers use the Internet to search for cheap gas prices. More than half of respondents say they will use Web sites to compare the cost of driving and flying when planning their next trip.

Drivers traveling out-of-state would be wise to fill up their gas tanks before leaving Oklahoma, which boasts the cheapest statewide average gasoline prices in the U.S. at about $3.87 a gallon.

Nationwide, the average is $4.08, according to AAA's Web site www.fuelgaugereport.com.

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