Local

More Georgians Driving to Memorial Day Destinations

May 24th, 2013

AAA says the number of Georgians traveling by plane is expected to dip slightly this Memorial Day. But according to the auto club, nearly 3,400 more Georgians will travel 50 miles or more by car in comparison to last year. AAA says it’s because even though gas prices have risen slightly, they have remained relatively steady.

Latresha Smith fills up her car at a gas station on Cheshire Bridge Road in Atlanta. She’s planning to drive to Savannah this memorial day for a family reunion.

“I don’t really know that part of my family, so I’m so excited”

Smith made the decision to drive to Savannah without thinking about gas prices.

“It really doesn’t matter to me to be honest with you, especially if I’m really wanting to go. I’m just one of those type of people who will hit the road and go for it.”

But others filling their tanks say gas prices are an important factor. Jayne Morris plans to drive to North Alabama near Memphis with her eight-year-old son. She checked gas prices between Georgia and Alabama before deciding to travel.

“I think they’re pretty reasonable right now.”

Gas prices in the Atlanta area currently average $3.57 for a gallon of regular unleaded. However, Morris has stayed home some previous holiday weekends because of high gas prices.

“When the gas prices got closer to $4.00, I did not want to go anywhere.”

And even though gas prices are not that high now, local cleaning company owner Dwanda Clark says she still can’t afford to travel this holiday.

“Dealing with the economy, you know, people we’re barely…getting by, and just to have the gas prices so exorbitant it causes people to stay at home. You’d rather just do something with the family and not being using a bunch of gas and just cooking and having a great time.”

Clark says she would consider leaving home if gas was closer to $3.00 per gallon.

AAA expects overall travel for Georgians to go down by just under one percent this holiday weekend…but the auto club expects things to pick up this summer.