Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Despite gas prices at a record high, one study found that Americans still plan to travel and vacation this summer.

According to AAA, a new study shows that almost half of those surveyed plan to travel by car or truck in the next six months.

With gas prices hovering around $5 per gallon, that is close to a 60% increase in fuel prices from this time last year.

According  to a recent article in The Washington Post, the increase in drivers on America’s roads could also raise gas prices further due to supply and demand.

Sherrill Mulkearns posted on Facebook that gas prices would not deter her and her family from traveling.

“We are heading to a family wedding in West Virginia next weekend and then driving to Cleveland to take care of the grandchildren while their parents attend a conference in Europe,” Mulkearns said. “Neither is negotiable — have to go to both.”

For Robin Jennings she was forced to cancel her anniversary trip. “We just plan on staying at home at our pool.” Jennings said on social media.

In an article on Business Wire, a location data company Arrivalist said 37.9 million Americans traveled by automobile over Memorial Day weekend.

This volume is tracking slightly above 2019 and 2021 Memorial Day traffic levels. Overall, 2022 U.S. Road travel is tracking 8.5 percent above 2021 volume.

According to AAA, the current highest U.S. average for gas is in California, where an average gallon of regular costs $6.06. The cheapest can be found in Oklahoma, which averages just over $4 per gallon.

Arleta Hicks also posted on social media  that the rising cost of fuel has her changing her plans to visit family. “I would love to travel a bit and visit my daughter who lives about 2-1/2 hours from me,” Hicks said. “However, I’m a senior citizen on a strict budget. Not only the gas prices, but the inflation on all other goods, will have me staying at home more than normal.”

Eddie Dickerson said the “how” people will be able to afford the rise in gas prices is the real story.

“Let’s tell the story of what happens when everyone maxes out their credit cards for gas just to go to the store… That’s a bigger story, the bigger issue than why.” Dickerson said.

You are not alone if you are one of the millions of Americans using credit cards and, in some cases, maxing them out to make ends meet.

The latest consumer debt data from the Federal Reserve Bank shows that consumers’ total credit card balances increased yearly.

According to data from credit-reporting firm Equifax, Americans opened a record 11.5 million credit card accounts in just the first two months of 2022.

Credit limits on those new cards total $55.5 billion, up nearly 60% from last year’s period.