Summertime, and the driving is cheap. Hitting the road for a week with a family of four will average $1,550 this summer for driving expenses, lodging and meals, according to the American Automobile Association.
That's up only slightly higher than last year's figure. Domestic travel bookings are running stronger than last summer, thanks to a stable economy at home and a weak dollar abroad, so brace yourself for crowds.The top five destinations for summer travelers include Orlando, Fla.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; the Grand Canyon; Yellowstone; and Williamsburg, Va.
Gasoline prices are up because crude-oil prices have been edging higher and demand is always greater in summer. But prices at the pump are only a bit higher than last summer.
And even with the usual seasonal increase of 5 cents to 10 cents per gallon, gas is still a bargain if you take the long, historical view: While prices of consumer goods have risen 60 percent overall since 1982, gasoline prices haven't gone up at all.
Lodging costs are also up slightly. Occupancy rates are up, and so are prices - by about 4 percent to 5 percent.
Budget-minded families might consider ski resorts that cater to off-season business with mountain biking, fly-fishing, tennis and other outdoor activities. At Killington Resort, in Vermont, a two-bedroom condo for five nights rents for $556 - nearly $400 less than when there's snow on the ground.
Park entrance fees at Walt Disney World are unchanged from last year. And rooms at the park's new All-Star Resorts go for as little as $69 per night.
The news for fliers isn't as good. Summer fare wars started early this year, so cheap seats to choice locales are harder to come by as the summer wears on, and tickets will likely be more restrictive.
Rental-car rates will be up about 5 percent over last summer.