Denver, August 26 - AAA Colorado projects that residents in the Mountain States will extend their summer travel through the Labor Day weekend. This year, Labor Day travel in the Mountain States, which includes Colorado, is projected to be equal to travel over the Independence Day holiday, which is traditionally the busiest summer travel holiday.

Labor Day will see 2.6 million Mountain States residents, 11.8 percent of the region’s population, taking a trip 50 or more miles away from home over the holiday period. Nationwide, 39.1 million Americans, 12.8 percent of the population, expect to travel over Labor Day. This is a slight increase over the 12.2 percent of Americans who traveled over the 4th of July holiday.

Americans who do travel can expect their dollars to go father this Labor Day. Nationwide, travel expenses have declined 11.7 percent during the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same quarter in 2008. Airfare, accommodations and gasoline are all seeing lower prices. Rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings in Denver are 19 percent less than last year with travelers spending an average of $100 per night. Nationwide, rates at a AAA Three Diamond lodging are down an average of 13 percent.

Gasoline prices in Colorado are down more than $1.30 per gallon compared to Labor Day weekend 2008. Today’s average for a gallon of gasoline in Colorado is $2.54 compared to $3.88 per gallon a year ago.

Travelers in the Mountain States expect to spend $867 per household over the upcoming holiday weekend. Transportation costs take up about 27 cents of the travel dollar while spending at the destination for accommodation, food and beverages, shopping and entertainment take 72 cents of the total holiday dollar.

The automobile will be the primary mode of transportation over Labor Day used by 84 percent of travelers. In the Mountain States, 40 percent of parties travelling will be families.

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.