Americans take to the skies for the July 4 holiday weekend

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   >>> woods. right now to hit the road for the 4th, you're not alone. aaa predicts nearly 40 million americans have the same idea. tom costello is at the national mall in washington with more on this. tom, good morning.

   >> reporter: hey, ann, good morning to you. this is going to be a very busy place. we got the folk line festival under way behind me, also the big fireworks show they're getting ready for on monday. two concerts on the steps of the capitol, also at the washington monument . but from coast to coast , we're talking beaches and barbecues and camping and celebration. july 1st and the 2011 great escape is on. hot fun in the summertime

   >> reporter: from yosemite in the west.

   >> i like the girls the best.

   >> reporter: aaa says 39 million americans will travel 59 miles or more this long weekend. that's 1 million fewer than last year.

   >> reporter: you can blame the pain at pump. the national average for unleaded now $3.54 a gallon, down from the high of $3.98 on may 4th . but still 80 cents higher than a year ago.

   >> it's still tough because we're still kind of transitioning from how high the gas prices were so we've got in the habit of not traveling as much.

   >> reporter: the big surprise? while fewer people are driving than a year ago, more people are flying. air travel is up 9% this summer.

   >> for some people, it actually may be more convenient and cheaper to fly than to drive this year.

   >> reporter: and airline ticket prices are also up, 11% on average.

   >> we're cutting back on trips and staying home more.

   >> reporter: it is a pretty exciting trip. the first time that anna and i have ever been anywhere together on a trip like this over the big pond .

   >> the top family destination this summer -- orlando. the top destinations for singles and couples -- las vegas , new york, chicago, and seattle. the good news? experts say there are plenty of flexible hotel deals out there, especially orlando, reno, portland, seattle and colorado.

   >> reporter: free nights, free room upgrades, kids stay free , resort credits. take advantage of all of those offerings to offset higher gas prices and higher airfares.

   >> back on the maryland shore, a yearly ritual --

   >> reporter: every year i bring my kids here just to hang out and have a good time, eat pizza, have popcorn.

   >> sounds like fun. all right, if you haven't yet booked your travel plans for the summer, maybe an air trip, couple pieces of advice. they say book on tuesdays, wednesdays or saturdays. those are the least traveled days and usually the least expensive days for air travel . and also, try to catch the first flight of the morning if you can get the kids out of bed, because you're more likely to have your plane there. it's not going to be delayed or canceled, hopefully. ann, back to you.

   >> reporter: some good tips this morning as we head to this holiday weekend. tom costello, thanks.

   >>

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