AAA says gas prices will keep people off the road July 4
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Holiday Travel Forecast
Holiday Travel Forecast
Published: June 30, 2008
Updated: July 1, 2008
DILLON — The national average cost for gasoline is still right at $4 per gallon. In the Pee Dee, it’s just under that at $3.90 per gallon.
Although both averages are about $1 more than drivers paid last year at this time, a survey conducted by AAA Carolinas shows the difference is enough to prevent motorists from traveling this July 4 holiday.
“We think there will be less travelers, and we expect a 1.3 percent decrease in travel by vehicle,” said Carol Gifford, spokeswoman for AAA Carolinas. “We do expect people to take trips, although we expect them to modify their plans and make the trips closer to home.”
Feeling the crunch
Some Pee Dee businesses said they, too, are feeling the effects of high gas prices.
Carina Tiepolt is the Guest Services Manager at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites on Highway 52 in Florence.
She said this summer, the hotel had seen a decrease in the number of family reunions and family travelers. She thinks high gas prices and the economy are contributing factors to the decline.
“I mean, we’re the halfway point between New York and New Jersey down to Florida. We still get the snowbirds and everything, but it’s the families that go on vacation that aren’t going as much,” said Tiepolt.
While Tiepolt said she hoped gas prices would soon go down, she said she also was looking forward to several busy upcoming holidays.
“Fourth of July looks busy. Freedom Florence has a lot going on and that’s my main business for that weekend. Labor Day, I’m hoping they have big baseball tournaments because I can’t count on the family travelers anymore,” said Tiepolt.
- Mackenzie Taylor/WBTW
MONEY CRUNCH
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According to the survey, about 550,000 South Carolinians will head out in holiday traffic, while 46,354 are expected to fly to their destinations.
This year’s statistics signify the lowest drop in travel since 2001.
But at South of the Border in Dillon County on Monday afternoon, it didn’t appear that way.
Amanda Phillips and her family had a picnic lunch on their way home at the South Carolina welcome center located just off Interstate 95 southbound.
Although she drives a Ford Excursion truck, Phillips said she didn’t let it stop her vacation to Virginia.
“We’re headed back to Columbia, and we packed lunches as a way to save some money,” she said. “I have a family with four children, so a vehicle smaller than my truck would not be large enough, although I am conscious of gas prices.”
Phillips said her family would be at home for the holiday, but they will be flying to visit relatives in California some time in July.
Sunday will be the heaviest road travel day of the holiday as most motorists return home on a day gas prices are likely to exceed $4 a gallon in North Carolina, according to the survey.
South Carolina has the second cheapest gasoline prices in the country, while North Carolina ranks at 35 for the most expensive gasoline.
That didn’t stop Donald Bryant and his son, Donovan, who drove more than two hours from Rocky Mount, N.C., to Dillon County to purchase fireworks.
“During the holidays, we try to stay at home,” Donald Bryant said. “We did drive down here to get fireworks, but I’m not worried about the gas. There’s nothing you can do about it.”
Donald Bryant said his family would get together at home and celebrate the July Fourth holiday, adding that traveling after the holiday rush is typical for him.
The AAA Carolinas survey also showed that people are more likely to budget the price of fuel into their vacation plans and use cheaper accommodations.
Rhonda Ford was headed back home Monday to Maryland following a week-long family reunion at Myrtle Beach. She said budgeting definitely played a role in her family’s ability to travel the long distance.
“There’s about 23 people carpooling together in five vehicles,” she said. “We thought the week before the holiday would be a good time for our family reunion, and we were determined to get (to Myrtle Beach) so the gas prices were not going to be an issue.”
More than 13 percent of nation’s population will travel this holiday weekend, according to AAA, and 85 percent, or 32.4 million, of those people will travel in automobiles.
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