AAA Travel projects 36.1 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a 1.5 percent increase from the 35.5 million people who traveled last year. Kicking off the summer driving season, more than eight in ten travelers will be driving to their destinations. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26.

In Illinois, 1.9 million people will be traveling for the holiday weekend, which is a one percent increase from 2013. Of those travelers, 1.7 million will be driving (up .5 percent from 2013) and 100,000 will be flying to their destination (a 4.3 percent increase from 2013). Gas prices across Illinois are on average $3.78, down from $3.98 in 2013.

In Indiana, 800,000 people are expected to travel, which is a 1.1 percent increase from 2013. Of those, 720,000 are expected to travel by auto (.6 percent increase) and about 43,000 by air (4.2 percent increase). In Indiana, gas prices are on average $3.66 per gallon, down from $3.77 this time last year. The average price nationally for gas is $3.65.