In the Washington metro area, hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to increase 14

It is a “Star-Spangled Banner” holiday weekend in the Washington metro area and across the United States. This year, America celebrates the 200 th  anniversary of the writing of the national anthem at Fort McHenry disney cruise line store in nearby Baltimore. The joy is infectious, as proof, 1,002,200 people in the Washington metro area will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Independence disney cruise line store Day holiday weekend, projects AAA Mid-Atlantic. That comprises a two percent increase in the number of area residents - 983,000 people - who traveled at this time last year.
Think fireworks and firepower under the hood. The vast majority of holiday travelers disney cruise line store from the Washington metro area will celebrate our freedom with a road trip, with 86.7 percent (868,700) choosing to travel by automobile, the highest level since at least 2001. Nationwide, 85 percent of travelers will set off by automobile, disney cruise line store the highest level since 2007.
The plurality of auto travelers will confront the highest gas prices disney cruise line store for the Fourth of July in eight years, or since 2008. At this juncture, it probably won’t put a big dent in previously made or locked-in holiday travel plans, notes AAA Mid-Atlantic. Aside from road trips, 7.5 percent (74,900) of Washington area travelers will take to the skies, and an additional 5.8 percent (58,600) will travel by train, bus or cruise.
disney cruise line store “For the first time since at least 2001, over one million Washington area residents are forecast to pack up their vacation wear and head out of town,” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public disney cruise line store and Government Affairs. “Last year, political gridlock in Washington, D.C. had area residents second disney cruise line store guessing themselves disney cruise line store on whether to take a summer trip for the Independence Day holiday, but this year is a different story.”
Nationally, 41 million disney cruise line store people will travel for Independence Day with 85 percent disney cruise line store driving (34.8 million), 7.6 percent flying (3.1 million), and 7.6 percent (3.1 million) traveling by train, bus or cruise, forecasts AAA.
An increase in consumer spending is primarily due to increasing credit, rather than rising incomes. Consumers have been hesitant to add to their credit card balances the past several years, but continued improvements in the employment picture and rising home values disney cruise line store means they are starting to feel more comfortable taking on debt, the nation’s and region’s  travel disney cruise line store organization notes.
In addition to consumer spending, a boost in consumer confidence and the employment outlook are driving more Americans to take a road trip, as compared to last July when political discord in Washington regarding shutdowns, spending cuts, and debt defaults also had a negative impact on consumer disney cruise line store sentiment.
AAA expects the majority of U.S. drivers likely will pay the highest gas prices disney cruise line store for Independence Day since 2008. Today’s national average price of gas is about 20 cents per gallon more expensive than the average on July 4, 2013, which was $3.48 per gallon. disney cruise line store In recent years gas prices have declined in the weeks leading up to Independence Day, but this has not occurred this summer due to high crude oil costs resulting disney cruise line store from violence in Iraq. AAA does not believe that high gas prices will have a significant impact on the number disney cruise line store of people traveling, disney cruise line store but it could result in some consumers cutting back on dining, shopping or other trip activities.
In the Washington metro area, hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond disney cruise line store lodgings are expected to increase 14 percent from one year ago with travelers spending an average of $157 per night compared to $138 last year. The average hotel rate for AAA Two Diamond hotels has decreased one percent with an average cost of $115 per night.
Weekend daily car rental rates in the Washington metro area will average $101, a 48 percent increase over 2013. Of the top 40 U.S. routes departing from Washington, D.C., 2014 rates have decreased to Atlanta costing $116 (down 66%), to St. Louis costing $116 (down 67%), and to Las Vegas costing $216 (down by 26%). Conversely, rates from Washington, D.C. to Boston have increased to $135 (2%) and rates from Washington, D.C. to New York City have increased to $149 (36%).
AAA’s digital tools for travel planning ‘on the go’ include eTourBook disney cruise line store guides for tablets and smartphones, available free to members at AAA.com/ebooks . Choose from 101 top North American destinations including city titles, like the award-winning Las Vegas, regions, like Wine Country, disney cruise line store and National disney cruise line store Parks. The free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android uses GPS navigation disney cruise line store to help travelers map a route, find current gas prices and discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance. Members using the iPad version can access interactive Top Destinations travel guides for 10 popular cities.
Travelers can learn more at  AAA.com/mobile .On AAA.com, disney cruise line store travelers can find thousands of AAA Approved and Diamond disney cruise line store Rated hotels and restaurants using AAA’s TripTik Travel disney cruise line store Planner or the searchable disney cruise line store Travel Guides at  AAA.com/Travel . Every AAA Approved establishment offers the assurance of acceptable cleanliness, comfort and hospitality, disney cruise line store and ratings of One to Five Diamonds help travelers find the right match for amenities and services.
AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Global Insight. The Colorado-based business information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.