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Keith McCord ReportingWith kids out of school, many people are traveling this week. Gas prices and air fares don't seem to be deterring people determined to get away for an early vacation.
For the most part, people are heading south and west because they're getting kind of tired of the snow. They're ready for summer. Flying or driving, a lot of folks are getting away this week.
Rolayne Fairclough, AAA Utah: "Southern California is a big destination spot, as well as Arizona, New Mexico."
Suzanne Kennard, Morris Murdock Travel: "Cabo San Lucas is a good spot for a quick getaway at the beach."
Suzanne Kennard has a stack of travel brochures on her desk showing the most popular destinations this time of year, and no one, it seems, wants to go east. The Easter-Spring break travel period is one that people have to plan for months in advance.
Suzanne Kennard: "Because right after Christmas they start planning spring break. Because if you don't, you're not going to get, I mean you can't get a hotel this weekend in St. George."
If you are staying closer to home and driving to a favorite get-away spot, the good news is, despite high gasoline prices, Utah's average price per gallon is the lowest in the nation.
Rolayne Fairclough: "But with Utah being the isolated market that it is, in fact the whole Intermountain West, we have domestic supplies from Canada and Wyoming and our own refineries. Right now, that's working in our favor."
You'll pay $2.41 in St. George, and 10-cents more per gallon in Moab. Salt Lake, Provo and Logan are in the $2.30 range.
No matter what the cost-- for gas or a plane ticket-- traveling right now is all about taking care of that cooped-up spring fever feeling, to be able to be outside without a coat.
Suzanne Kennard: "You know, when we have a pretty tough snow time, and it's really cold for an extended period, January and February, people call us. We want to get out."
And for those of you who are heading to Hawaii, just be aware that gas prices over there are the highest in the nation-- $3.29 a gallon.
