A survey commissioned by AA

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"This year, given the state of the economy, the joblessness rate and concerns over what will happen in coming months have really added to people's anxiety about spending money on travel," said Cynthia Harris, spokeswoman for AAA Northern California.

A survey commissioned by AAA found that some 4.5 million Californians are expected to travel 50 miles or more during the extended holiday period ending Monday. That's a 2.7 percent decrease from last year. And that's even with gas prices more than $1.50 a gallon cheaper than they were Independence Day 2008.

Still, about 3.7 million Californians are expected to go on a road trip as the nation marks its birth 233 years ago, the annual survey found. Among the most popular in-state driving destinations for Bay Area residents? Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Disneyland and San Diego, Harris said. For those willing to spend a bit more time behind the wheel, Las Vegas and Salt Lake City and its nearby national parks also are favorite destinations, she said.

For Bay Area residents who stick close to home, there's plenty to do: the county fairs in Alameda and Marin counties, the Fillmore Jazz Festival in San Francisco and the more than 50 Fourth of July celebrations in the region.

The automobile association cast as the one bright spot nationally for the travel industry an anticipated increase in trips by plane. But talk to representatives of the Bay Area's three largest airports and they predict fewer travelers.

"It's going to be real busy, but still down about 2 percent from last year," said San Francisco International Airport's Michael McCarron.

Oakland International Airport expects to be off about 15 percent compared with last year, said spokeswoman Rosemary Barnes.

Summer is usually a boon time for airports, when vacationers pack their sunblock and head off for family reunions, big-city sightseeing on the East Coast or some much-needed rest and relaxation at sunny coastal spots.

"We're in the busy time of the year, in general, but unfortunately for us, it's not as busy a usual," said David Vossbrink, a spokesman for Mineta San Jose International Airport, where year-to-year travel marked in May was down about 19 percent. "My instinct tells me that Fourth of July is going to be a stay-at-home and barbecue weekend."

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