In the Mountain States 2.6 million Americans, 11.8 percent of the region's population, expect to take a trip of 50 or more miles away from home over the 2009 Independence Day holiday period. This is a 1.2 percent increase from last year. Nationwide, 37.1 million Americans expect to travel, a decline of 1.9 percent from 2008. Last year, 37.8 million Americans traveled during the same period; a 10.5 percent decline from the 42.3 million travelers who vacationed in 2007.

According to AAA the expected decline in leisure travel nationwide is mainly due to ongoing uncertainty about the economy. The Mountain States (which include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming) benefit from a relatively low unemployment rate which is one of the reasons this region will experience travel growth while the eight remaining regions expect a decline.

Rising gasoline prices may also be causing some travelers to limit or abbreviate their holiday plans, although its impact on overall vacation costs remains minimal, according to AAA Colorado. Gasoline accounts for 13.8 percent of total travel expenditures in the Mountain States.

Gasoline prices are up since Memorial Day, but are still much lower than they were at this time last year. Last year in Colorado the price for regular unleaded gasoline was slightly over $4.00 a gallon on Independence Day.

The July 4th holiday is typically the busiest time of year for auto travel. In the Mountain States, 81 percent of expected trips will be by automobile.

Air travel will account for slightly less than 8 percent of Independence Day holiday travel in the Mountain States. Declining airfares and pent-up demand will result in a 9.7 percent increase over last year's July 4th holiday period. Air travel is projected to increase in all nine regions.

"When vacationing this summer you will find many attractive offers resulting in some outstanding values," says Sandra Barnes, AAA Colorado Director of Travel Services. "It is smart to travel this summer. There's never been a better time to take your dream trip." AAA's Leisure Travel Index shows vacation costs lower than last year's Fourth of July week.

• Hotel rates nationally are down 12 percent compared to last year for AAA-rated Three Diamond hotels.
• In Colorado, average rates for Three Diamond hotels are down 9 percent, from $126 to $115.
• Airfares nationally have dropped 16 percent lower than Fourth of July 2008.
• Car rental rates are down in Denver an average of 27 percent from $89 last year to $65 this year.
• Nationally, car rental rates are up 5 percent.

AAA's projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. AAA Colorado has more than 525,000 members and is an advocate for safety and security for all travelers. As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services, as well as member-exclusive savings. AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com.