BLOOMINGTON - Fewer Americans expect to travel for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, the first holiday travel decrease in five years. | Find the best gas prices in the area | Contest: When will gas hit $4 in Central Illinois?

About 37.87 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home, a drop of nearly 360,000 travelers, or .9 percent, from last year's total of 38.23 million, according to a AAA-Chicago report released Thursday. The numbers represent the first decrease since 2002.

"People are opting to do things closer to home," said spokeswoman Nicole Niemi.

Record gas prices likely were the determining factor for families who chose not to travel, Niemi said. The most recent spikes - typically to as high as $3.96 for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline in the Twin Cities - within the past two weeks would not have impacted people's travel plans, but the fact that fuel prices have sustained their higher-than-usual level since the start of the year has made a difference, she said.

"It's been building. … People anticipated they would be higher and changed some plans," Niemi said.

Nearly 31.7 million Americans expect to travel by automobile, a 1 percent decrease from about 32 million people who drove a year ago, AAA reported. Almost 4.35 million intend to fly, down slightly from 4.37 million last year. About 1.8 million plan to travel by train, bus or other transportation, compared to 1.9 million a year ago.

Some Central Illinois residents join others across the country who have decided against a weekend trip; however, Twin City travel ports still could be busy.

Bookings at the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington reveal about the same number of people will fly out of the facility as in 2007, said Fran Strebing, deputy director of marketing. In addition, Amtrak expects trains to sell out next weekend, said spokesman Marc Magliari.

So far this year, Amtrak has outpaced its record numbers from the year before, Magliari said. For example, ridership from Chicago to St. Louis is up 19 percent - that's 48,190 more passengers - from October through April, he said.

"We've been looking really busy," Magliari said. "Memorial Day is the historical start of the summer travel season for us, too."

Good indicator for summer travel

Traffic during Memorial Day weekend typically is a good indicator for summer travel, but the Fourth of July may paint a better picture this year, Niemi said. Families may have decided this is the year to stay home, or they might just forego one three-day weekend trip but still take that other vacation later in the summer, she said.

"This year is an anomaly," Niemi said. "We've never had these high gas prices … and for such a long time."

The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.78 a gallon, according to AAA. That is 39 cents more than a month ago and 68 cents higher than a year ago. Twin City gas prices range from $3.87 to $3.96.

Air fares also are expected to rise 8 percent, to an average of $179.

Those prices are just too much for some people in Central Illinois.

"It's too expensive to travel," said Tiffany Bruer of El Paso, who plans to visit her mom in Bloomington for a cookout to mark the holiday.

Laura Burt of Normal also will attend a friend's cookout in the Twin Cities instead of her brother's party near Chicago.

"Right now, I don't have the extra cash to travel up there," Burt said.

But not everyone will let gas prices ruin a getaway - at least not yet.

Dave Call of Normal hasn't decided if he'll hop in the car for a trip next weekend. But his decision depends on the weather. If it's nice enough to play a round of golf in the Twin Cities, he'll stay home. If not, it's probably off to Nashville or somewhere else just to get in some tee time.

But that June wedding in Colorado? Gasoline over $4 a gallon might persuade Call to not attend that function.

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Fill 'er up

Chart below shows historical Twin City gas prices prior to the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

1998 - $1.05

1999 - $1.08

2000 - $1.51

2001 - $1.85

2002 - $1.41

2003 - $1.41

2004 - $2.09

2005 - $2.12 *

2006 - $2.72

2007 - $3.42

*National average

SOURCE: Pantagraph archives