SelectPlusGas Prices Put Brakes on Holiday TravelGas Prices Put Brakes on Holiday TravelThe Associated PressMillions of drivers are hitting the road this weekend and all of them should be ready to pay up at the pump. Gas prices are at an average of nearly $3.88 a gallon nationally, up 65 cents a gallon over the past year. (May 23)Gas prices are up 20 percent over last Memorial Day.It's hurting vacation budgets, and travelers are pessimistic about what it means. "It's the beginning of the end, it's the beginning of how the US economy is tanking." "With the world economy. China and India are using more fuel." "Gas prices are taxed too much." But Triple A says the roads will still be crowded this weekend. More than 31 and a half million drivers will take to the roadways. That's slightly lower than last year. Ted Shaffrey, The Associated Press/Secaucus, NJ "Gas prices are high." Hovering near four dollars a gallon. That may be the magic number. People say they ARE cutting back." "We typically didn't take driving vacations before, but we're doing more of it because it seems to be cheaper than flying." "We're just traveling for 45 minutes, so we're not doing much traveling at all this weekend." "We're trying not to go far out so we can get back in time, and avoid the airplanes because of the new cost for baggage which is ridiculous." Analysts say gas costs will only go higher throughout the summer driving season. Ted Shaffrey, The Associated Press, Secaucus, New Jersey