Charleston, SC - It’s bumper to bumper traffic on Folly Road and cars are lining the street towards Folly's sandy beaches.

Stay-cations are sticking this holiday, according to AAA.

“Over a half of a million will be driving more than 50 miles away from home, that means the rest of us are remaining right here in our own area,” Lori Jo Simmons with AAA said.

Lowcountry hotels also received a hit during this recession and a few are seeing increases in occupancy.

The Market Pavilion is seeing about the same number of occupants as last year. Part of that is the convenience factor.

“Charleston has always been a drive market, as the economy grows and the price of fuel gets more expensive, because we are a drive market, it’s a little bit more affordable to come and visit us compared to some other destinations,” Market Pavilion Hotel general manager Gary Cohen said.

This Fourth of July weekend, AAA says it’s seeing a two percent decline in highway travel, but a six percent increase in air travel.

“The airline prices have dropped a bit. So there are a lot of people traveling by air this week,” Simmons said.

AAA blames the two percent decline in highway travel to the economy and high unemployment, but gas prices are not helping either.

“In the month of June, South Carolinians did see a spike at the pump and that was due to the cost of oil rising. However, with demand down, we have seen it trickle down the last couple days,” Simmons said.

From last week to today regular gas has dropped about three cents from $2.48 to $2.45 a gallon. Last year it was $3.90. But with the economy not getting noticeably better, more people in the palmetto state may be putting the brakes on any long-distance driving this summer.

AAA says they expect gas prices to remain stable or go even lower a bit through this summer season.

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