AAA says we're in a travelin' mood

The number of Americans traveling this Fourth of July holiday weekend will increase 17.1 percent from 2009, with approximately 34.9 million travelers taking a trip at least 50 miles away from home, AAA said today.

On the local front, approximately 1.22 million Pennsylvanians will travel this holiday. Of those traveling, 1.08 million will be driving, 65,000 anticipate flying to their destination, and 79,000 will be traveling by an alternative form of transportation (boat, bus, motorcycle, train).

"Due to the economic situation last year, an unprecedented number of Americans elected to bypass traveling for the July Fourth holiday" said Jim Lehman, executive vice president, AAA East Central. "As the economy has gradually turned around, the pent up demand has resulted in double-digit travel numbers this year."

Those driving may be paying a bit more -- the price of gasoline in Western Pennsylvania rose by 11 cents this week, AAA reported, to an average of $2.78 per gallon. Last year at this time the average per gallon was about $2.70.