During the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, approximately 36.1 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home, a 1.5% increase from the 35.5 million who traveled last year, according to the “AAA Memorial Day Travel Forecast.” The travel period is defined as Thursday May 22 to Monday May 26.

According to the AAA report, 31.8 million travelers (80%) plan to travel to their destination by automobile, an increase from 31.4 million last year.

"As we enter into the summer travel season with warmer temperatures and tulips in bloom, thoughts of historic cold are still fresh in the minds of Americans in many parts of the country," said Marshall L. Doney, AAA chief operating officer. "The winter blues appear to have given Americans the travel bug and a case of cruise cabin fever as travel for the holiday is expected to hit a new post-recession high."

Due to rising supplies, AAA expects that holiday gas prices will be similar or slightly lower than last year’s national Memorial Day average of $3.63 per gallon.

And when it comes to car rental, weekend daily car rental rates will average $44, only 1% higher than last year, according to the AAA report.

For the complete “AAA/IHS Global Insight Memorial Day Forecast,” visit http://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/2014-Memorial-Day-Holiday-Forecast-Report.pdf.