It’s not just gas that is costing more for travelers — lodging and dining costs have increased an average of 5% since last year.
A new AAA survey found a family of two adults and two children can expect to pay an average of $247 per day for food and lodging.
Lodging rates are averaging $129 a night, up 3.9% from last year.
What’s behind the increases?
AAA cites higher hotel demand and greater transportation costs for meat and dairy products, which impacts dining costs.
Travelers looking for the least expensive vacations can go to Nebraska, North Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma and Iowa.
The most expensive state remains Hawaii at $518 a day, followed by DC and Rhode Island.
AAA has been tracking vacation costs since 1950, when the average cost of meals and lodging was $13 a day.
Report by David Wilkening
