LAYTON -- Gas prices are higher than they were a year ago and the economy hasn't fully rebounded, but Utahns plan to take advantage of their last few days of summer.
According to a recent travel survey from AAA, more than 2.6 million people from the Mountain West area plan to travel at least 50 miles this Labor Day holiday weekend, representing an overall increase of 11 percent from last year.
"People are still having mixed feelings about the economy," said AAA spokeswoman Rolayne Fairclough. "But compared to a year ago, fewer people will pull back on their discretionary spending, and that will have a considerable impact on holiday travel."
Despite higher gas prices this year, AAA predicts that of those traveling this Labor Day, more than 2.4 million will drive to reach their destinations, an 11.2 percent increase over last year.
Gasoline prices in Utah are 23 cents higher than they were a year ago.
With an average of $2.92 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, Utah's gas prices are currently the fifth-highest in the nation, behind only Alaska, California, Hawaii and Washington.
Last year at this time, the average Utah gas price was $2.69.
According to the survey, more than 150,000 residents of the Western states are planning to travel by air, an increase of 5.4 percent over last year.
Nationally, AAA projects that just more than 34 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the Labor Day weekend, representing a 9.9 percent increase over last year.
Meanwhile, the Utah Department of Transportation is hoping the Utahns who travel this Labor Day will extend their trips.
Teaming with the Utah Office of Tourism, UDOT recently announced its "Stay an Extra Day" campaign, encouraging summer holiday travelers to leave a day early or stay an extra day at their travel destinations.
UDOT and the Utah Office of Tourism have collaborated with lodging properties and attractions across the state willing to offer discounts or other incentives exclusively on the Thursday before or the Tuesday after each holiday weekend.
UDOT Region One spokesman Vic Saunders said there will be no construction activity over the holiday weekend.
"We typically won't work on projects over holiday weekends like this unless there is a compelling reason," he said.
Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Todd Johnson said several DUI blitzes are planned for the holiday weekend in the Salt Lake City area. None are currently scheduled for Weber or Davis counties.
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