AAA projects more than 38 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend.

That is the second-highest Memorial Day travel volume on record and the most since 2005.Spurred by the lowest gas prices in more than a decade, about 700,000 more people will travel compared to last year.The Memorial Day holiday travel period is defined as Thursday through Monday."The great American road trip is officially back thanks to low gas prices and millions of people from coast to coast are ready to kick off summer with a Memorial Day getaway," according to Theresa Podguski, spokeswoman for AAA East Central.Americans paid the cheapest quarterly gas prices in 12 years during the first three months of 2016.AAA estimates that Americans have saved more than $18 billion on gas so far this year compared to the same period in 2015. The strong labor market and rising personal income are also motivating people to travel for Memorial Day this year.Mid-Atlantic regionNearly 4.5 million people from the mid-Atlantic States (New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) expect to travel this holiday weekend, up 2.1 percent from last year.• Car travel: 4.1 million (up 2 percent from 2015)• Air travel: 280,000 (up 0.7 percent from 2015)• Other modes: 133,000 (down 5.5 percent from 2015)Low gas pricesLow gas prices are driving the increase in auto travel this Memorial Day.Nearly 34 million (89 percent) holiday travelers will drive to their Memorial Day destinations, an increase of 2.1 percent over last year as a result of lower gas prices.The national average price for a gallon of gasoline today is $2.28, 46 cents less than last year.AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the lowest Memorial Day gas prices since 2004. According to a recent AAA survey, 55 percent of Americans say they are more likely to take a road trip this year due to lower gas prices.Air travelAir travel is also expected to increase 1.6 percent over last year, with 2.6 million Americans taking to the skies this Memorial Day. Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will fall 2.3 percent, to 1.6 million travelers.According to AAA's Leisure Travel Index, average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes will be 26 percent cheaper this Memorial Day, with an average round-trip ticket costing $165.Hotel costs are in line with last Memorial Day.AAA Three Diamond Rated hotels will average $183, while a AAA Two Diamond Rated hotel will average $151 nightly. Daily car rental rates will average $62, 3 percent less than last year.AAA to the rescueAAA expects to rescue more than 350,000 motorists nationally during the Memorial Day holiday travel period, with the primary reasons being dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires.AAA recommends motorists check the condition of their battery and tires before heading out on a road trip.