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AAA says fewer Americans will go out of town this Fourth of July weekend -- the first such decline in this decade. Here's a look at what to expect on holiday travel this summer:

The findings

About 1.3% fewer Americans will travel over Fourth of July than during last year's holiday.

In the West, the estimated decline was 0.8%.

Airfares over July Fourth weekend are up 13% over last year.

Car rentals will cost 12% more.

In California, a gallon of regular unleaded gas today cost nearly $4.60, up more than 44% from a year ago, according to AAA's daily survey.

A member survey released this week by the Automobile Club of Southern California found that 11% were not planning any overnight trips this summer.

The reason

"It does seem like gas prices and the economy have finally caught up with people," said Marie Montgomery Nordhues, spokeswoman for the Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest member in the AAA federation, with more than 6 million members.

Travel tips

If you want to get away, you can still find ways to save, said Robert L. Darbelnet, AAA president and chief executive.

"Travelers should look out for free gas card offerings, breakfast promotions, kids-eat-free deals, car rental discounts and, of course, always ask about AAA member discounts," he said.

How the survey was done

AAA's holiday survey was conducted online with more than 2,000 adults nationwide, supplemented with data from 6,500 more Americans from the top 10 states of travel origin. The Travel Industry Assn. of America did the analysis and forecasts for AAA.

jane.engle@latimes.com

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