It could get a little crowded on Wisconsin roadways this weekend.
An estimated 665,000 Wisconsinites are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this weekend, according to AAA. Auto club spokesman Nick Jarmusz says that’s up about 7.8-percent from last year and higher than what’s expected in other parts of the country.
Jarmusz says the likely reason for more people going away from home is that they’re starting to feel a little better about the economy, so they’re more comfortable with spending some of their discretionary income on travel.
As the holiday weekend arrives, gas prices have been consistently going down in the past few weeks. The statewide average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel is about $2.68 right now. That’s still about $0.43 higher than Memorial Day weekend last year, but Jarmusz says people may be willing to pay a bit more since they likely haven’t been able to take a vacation for awhile.
Jarmusz says the vast majority of those traveling this weekend will be going by car.