Memorial Day weekend — the start of the summer travel season — will feature more travelers and higher prices in Georgia.  If you plan to travel outside the Northwest Georgia area, you can expect to see even higher gas prices than we have in our area.

What’s happening: A survey from AAA predicts nearly 1.2 million Georgians will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend.

• That’s up 7.5% from 2021, bringing travel volumes close to the 2018 rate.

The intrigue: Despite record-high gas prices, 90% of Memorial Day travelers plan to travel by car, more than 1.1 million Georgians to be exact.

• That’s a nearly 5% increase from this weekend last year.

By the numbers: Gas is on average $4.14 per gallon in Georgia. The previous highest average Memorial Day price was $3.91 per gallon in 2008.

Here in Northwest Georgia, we have some of the cheapest gas prices in the state.  As of Friday afternoon, gas in Chattooga County was $4.06 per gallon.  That compares to $4.27 per gallon on the Georgia coast.  Meanwhile if you’re headed to the beach in Florida, you can expect to pay an average of $4.58 per gallon.