PIERRE - The AAA auto club is predicting a 1 percent decline in travel over the Fourth of July holiday period in South Dakota.

Blame the high cost of gasoline.

AAA estimates that 108,367 South Dakotans will travel by all modes of transportation.

The auto club estimates a 1.7 percent decline in driving and 3.7 percent reduction in flying.

Nationwide, AAA projects 40.45 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Independence Day period, or a reduction of 1.3 percent from last year.

Travel also was down during the Memorial Day weekend.