With the unofficial start of summer here, Americans are expected to hit the road in near-record numbers this Memorial Day Weekend.

AAA Northeast Regional General Manager Ed Welsh says more than 41.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday weekend.

That's nearly five percent more that last year and the most since 2005.

“The highest gas prices since 2014 won’t keep travelers home this Memorial Day weekend,” said Welsh. “A strong economy and growing consumer confidence are giving Americans all the motivation they need to kick off what we expect to be a busy summer travel season with a Memorial Day getaway.”

Welsh says the average price in the Utica-Rome area is $3.08 a gallon.

That's about 55 cents more a gallon than last year at this time.

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