AAA Carolinas says it expects an increase in the number of travelers over the Memorial Day weekend in North Carolina and South Carolina despite a recent spike in gas prices.

The travel services company predicted Tuesday that holiday travel will be up five percent from the 2008 Memorial Day weekend. Around 754,000 North Carolina drivers and 369,000 South Carolina motorists are expected to travel beginning Friday.

AAA Carolinas president Dave Parsons says the desire to get away is overcoming economic downturns and recent gas price increases. He says that bodes well for the hospitality industry.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas is $2.27 in North Carolina and $2.16 in South Carolina, which is a 25-cent increase in both states since the Easter holiday. But that's still around $1.50 less than a year ago.