Memorial Day travel: More than 1 million in Georgia expected to take trips

Travelers stand in line to pass through a TSA checkpoint at Miami International Airport on Thursday. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Credit: Alan Diaz

Credit: Alan Diaz

Travelers stand in line to pass through a TSA checkpoint at Miami International Airport on Thursday. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

More than 1 million Georgia travelers are expected to take trips over Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA.

That's up 2.5 percent over last year, an increase the auto club attributed to higher consumer confidence, rising wages and recent declines in gas prices.

Those factors are "leaving many Americans with more money to spend on travel this Memorial Day," according to AAA assistant vice president of travel sales development Vicky Evans.

Over the Memorial Day long weekend from Thursday May 25 to Monday May 29, travel by all modes of transportation are expected to be at their highest levels since 2005 across the United States.

But air fares, car rental rates and mid-range hotel prices are also “trending higher” than last year’s Memorial Day period, according to AAA.

Average air fares for the top 40 domestic routes will be 9 percent higher this Memorial Day, according to AAA.

Of the 1.17 million Georgia travelers over Memorial Day weekend, most of them -- 1.05 million -- will be going by car.

In Georgia, the number of people traveling by car is expected to be up 2.3 percent, while travel by air is expected to be up 5.7 percent.

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