Despite gas prices, many travelers expected on Labor Day

34.5 million Americans likely to travel 50 miles or more away from home, AAA says

Clinton Lake will be like a small town this Labor Day weekend.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Clinton Lake is expecting 40,000 to 50,000 people over the three-day weekend, said David Rhoades, park manager.

“It’s really weather dependent,” Rhoades said. “If it rains, we may get half the number we expect. But if it’s nice and sunny like the forecast looks like it will be, the turnout will be good.”

Despite high gasoline prices, an estimated 34.5 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day weekend, according to AAA of Kansas.

At Kansas City International Airport, about 90,000 passengers either arriving or departing from the airport are anticipated, said Tom McKenna, the airport’s director of marketing.

Perry Lake is a popular destination for Labor Day campers. Despite high gas prices, millions of Americans are expected to hit the road for the long holiday weekend.

“It’s not Thanksgiving,” he said. “But it’s above an average weekend because it’s a three-day weekend.”

Nationally, about 28.8 million people will travel by vehicle, according to AAA of Kansas. It’s difficult to know how rising gas prices will affect auto travel this weekend, said Kim Mathewson, spokeswoman for Kansas AAA in Topeka.

“Many times, vacations are planned in advance and sometimes there are penalty fees involved with cancellations,” she said. “But some traveling by car may decide against a trip or, maybe, not travel as far.”

If folks are canceling trips, Rhoades wasn’t aware of it and neither were area hotels. The bulk of Clinton Lake’s 290 reserved campsites are taken. Eight of the 15 reserved campsites at Clinton State Park still were available Wednesday afternoon. Both parts of Clinton Lake also have non-reserved camp sites available on a first-come basis.

“It’s going to be great,” Rhoades said. “This is kind of our last big hurrah of the season.”

Many Lawrence hotels surveyed Wednesday were booked for 75 percent or better occupancy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

“It’s a good weekend for us. We’re pretty much booked,” said Kate Gibson, morning front desk clerk at Holiday Inn.

The Holiday Inn and the Eldridge Hotel both reported having no rooms available for Saturday night.