COEUR D'ALENE — Memorial Day travel is back in a big way.
According to AAA, 43.8 million Americans, including about 262,000 Idahoans, plan to travel more than 50 miles from home to celebrate the holiday weekend, an increase of 1.8 million Americans from a year ago. 1 million more people than in 2019.
“Travel has seen a gradual recovery in recent years, with Memorial Day weekend expected to see the second-highest number of travelers in 2005, just below 2005,” said Matthew Conde, director of communications for AAA-Idaho. “It will be done,” he said. “Travel and discretionary spending remain on the rise despite persistent concerns about the economy.”
The National Park Service reported 325.5 million visitors to parks, monuments, and other sites last year. The most visited parks were Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Zion, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, Acadia, Grand Teton, Joshua Tree, and Olympic National Park.
A new record for car travel will be set this year, with 38.4 million Americans expected to pack up their family car and go on vacation.
More than 3.5 million people plan to take a flight, an increase of nearly 5% from a year ago. Other forms of travel, including cruises, trains and buses, are expected to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels, up 5.6% to 1.9 million.
The average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is now $3.85, down 3 cents from a week ago and a penny less than a month ago, but 10 cents more than a year ago. The national average was $3.62 per gallon, also 3 cents lower than a week ago and a penny lower than a month ago, but 8 cents higher than a year ago.
Prices in Coeur d'Alene range from lows of about $3.69 per gallon to highs in the $3.80 range.
Idaho has the most expensive fuel after California ($5.29), Hawaii ($4.80), Washington ($4.64), Nevada ($4.44), Oregon ($4.42), Alaska ($4.39), Arizona ($3.95) and Illinois ($3.92). It is ranked 9th in the United States. .
“Moderate fuel demand, increased gasoline supplies and oil currently below $80 per barrel have kept pump prices subdued over the past few weeks,” Conde said. “But the unofficial start of road trip season is just around the corner, and drivers know filling up is part of the equation.”
Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil is currently trading around $79 per barrel, which is 50 cents higher than a week ago, $6 lower than a month ago, and $8 higher than a year ago. It has become.
Here are prices at the pump in Idaho as of Monday: Boise, $3.90. Franklin, $3.75. Idaho Falls, $3.74. Lewiston, $3.74. Pocatello, $3.88. Rexburg, $3.85. Twin Falls, $3.86.
