Record gasoline prices won't deter holiday travel: AAA

A file photo of traffic backed up at a New Jersey Turnpike toll plaza near New York City November 23, 2005. U.S. travel during the Memorial Day weekend will rise 1.7 percent over last year despite record gasoline prices, travel and auto group AAA said on Thursday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Record high gasoline prices won't put the brakes on bustling travel during the coming Memorial Day holiday weekend, travel and automobile group AAA said on Thursday.

Some 38.3 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more during the holiday at the end of May, up 1.7 percent from a year ago, according to a AAA survey.

Memorial Day is the traditional start of the summer vacation season.

"High gas prices and increased vacation costs won't deter Americans from traveling this Memorial Day," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes in a press release.

She added, however, that some travelers may stay closer to home, or choose less expensive hotels and restaurants to offset the higher cost of motor fuel.

Gasoline prices struck a record this week over $3.10 per gallon, breaking the previous peak set after hurricanes hit refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005.

AAA has said the rising cost of fuel is due to "America's continuing and increasing inability to supply enough refined gasoline to the marketplace" as the nation's aging refineries are repeatedly beset by operating snags.

Among the Memorial holiday travelers, motorists are expected to account for 32.1 million, a 1.8 percent increase from last year.

Another 4.4 million plan to travel by airplane, up 1.0 percent from last year, and 1.9 million will travel via train or bus.

The AAA survey is based on a poll of 2,000 adults.