Holiday tourists aren’t driving far to reach the coast

MOREHEAD CITY - The Shelofsky family of New Jersey is spending their Fourth of July vacation along the Crystal Coast, but the beach wasn't their only destination while in North Carolina.

Their first stop was Durham to pick up the kids from summer camp.

Had it not been for the need for the first stop, high gas prices might have kept them from making the trip to Atlantic Beach.

"I don't think we would have come this far; we probably would have stayed closer to home," said Alison Shelofsky as she arrived at Lost Treasure Golf and Raceway with her husband and two children.

About one million North Carolina and 551,000 South Carolina drivers are expected to take to the roads through the weekend, a 1.3-percent decrease in the number of July 4th road travelers from 2007, according to AAA Carolinas.

Those who do travel this holiday weekend will be greeted by gas prices that continue to break records.

Earlier this week, AAA Carolinas reported that the average of $3.99 a gallon of unleaded gasoline in North Carolina was up 23 cents from Memorial Day. Since last July 4, prices in North Carolina are up $1.09 a gallon for unleaded gas.

Nationally, gas averages have increased $1.11 for a gallon of unleaded gas to a new record high of $4.066 for this July 4 holiday weekend, AAA Carolinas reported.

Carteret County Tourism Development Authority Executive Director Carol Lohr acknowledges the impact that the rising gas prices and the economic situation can have on tourism.

But the advantage for Carteret County and the North Carolina coast is that many visitors are driving into the area from relatively close distances.

And while they may come with more limited budgets and be more frugal in their spending, families still seem to be coming to the coast to spend some quality time together.

"We've seen a lot of hits today, people calling, people stopping by the visitor centers. We think it's going to be a strong weekend," Lohr said.

The Seahawk Motor Lodge and Villas in Atlantic Beach is expecting a full house for the July 4th weekend, but come Monday the crowd is expected to thin.

"We haven't been seeing many people on the weekdays. It's got a lot to do with the gas prices, I'm sure," said Assistant Manager Frank Tucker.

The guests haven't stopped coming, but Tucker said there have been some changes in the trends he's seen.

For one, he said, guests are coming for weekends rather than longer stays of five or six days. It's hard to budget for more when combining the high cost of gas, food and other vacation expenses.

"For the average family, a two or three-day weekend is all they can afford," Tucker said.

Tucker said guests are also coming from shorter distances, traveling here from Greenville or Raleigh rather than locations five or six hours away.

"The gas prices are keeping people closer to home," he said.

As long as they come, Tucker and Manager Leonard Craig are glad to greet them.

"We'll be here," Tucker said.

Contact Jannette Pippin at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 252-808-2275. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.