AAA SAYS PUMP PRICES WON'T KEEP TRAVELERS DOWN

Topeka, Kan., May 24, 2004 - Gasoline prices in the two dollar per gallon range across Kansas aren't going to put the brakes on road trips during the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to a survey by AAA Kansas.

"We received a mixed response as to where people seem to be going. But one thing is for sure: gas prices don't seem to be a factor," said Debi Nelson, AAA Kansas District Office Manager. "Members are driving everywhere."

"We polled each of our seven district offices throughout the state and found agents handling about the same amount of vacation requests as last year," said Jim Doblin, Public Affairs Coordinator for AAA Kansas.

"The informal survey showed popular road trip destinations include St. Louis and Branson Missouri, resorts in Colorado and several cities in Texas," Doblin said.

"In addition, folks seem to be booking more airline trips to Disneyland in California, probably because gasoline prices are much higher in that state."

The price per gallon of gasoline in Kansas is generally up by 50 cents from this period last year, according to AAA's daily price survey at http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/.

Nationally, AAA is predicting a record 30.9 million travelers by car this weekend, up 3.4 percent from last year.

• Additional resources: Get the cost of your trip with AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator at

www.fuelcostcalculator.com.

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