BLOOMINGTON -- Sue Alcorn doesn't plan to travel out-of-town this July 4 weekend. "I lost my job recently and the economy sucks," the Bloomington resident said Monday while buying $20 in gas at Thornton Oil Corp., 908 N. Main St., Bloomington.

According to AAA Chicago, Alcorn isn't the only one forgoing a road trip.

Travel nationwide is expected to drop 1.9 percent from last year, with about 37.1 million traveling 50 or more miles from home compared to 37.8 million in 2008. Travel in Illinois is expected to remain relatively constant, with 1.7 million travelers.

The main reason for the expected drop in nationwide travel, AAA said, is uncertainty about the economy, especially rising unemployment and sagging personal incomes.

This year, gas prices are a secondary concern. That's because this holiday they are expected to be significantly lower than last year. A check of GasBuddy.com Monday showed prices ranged from $2.52 to $2.55 in much of the Twin Cities. That compares to about $4 a gallon a year ago.

While Alcorn won't be driving to Missouri to camp out like she previously did over the July 4 holidays, she nevertheless plans to enjoy herself by having a cookout in town with family and friends.

In Illinois, meanwhile, about the same number of people are expected to travel this year as last. Nicole Niemi, a spokeswoman for AAA Chicago, was not sure why Illinois is expected to buck the trend.

The majority of Illinois travelers, or 1.5 million, will travel by motor vehicle. About 60,000 Illinois residents are expected to fly, with the remainder traveling by other means. Airfares over the July 4 holiday weekend are expected to drop 16 percent from last year, while hotel rates are expected to be 12 percent lower. Car rental rates are expected to be 5 percent higher.

Bloomington resident Ken Yanzy, who was also filling up at Thornton's, is planning a drive to Memphis, Tenn., over the holiday, despite the recession. However, the retiree hopes to save money by staying with family while attending a wedding.