Many people recognize Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start of summer, and it is often one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. AAA expects this year to be especially popular, with as many as 30.7 million Americans making trips of at least 50 miles, good for a 1.2 percent increase over the number of travelers last year.

The predictions are bit surprising given that gas prices have been hovering above $3.50 a gallon, but AAA found that most drivers won't let that affect their plans. In fact, 53 percent said gas price increases won't impact their decision at all. Of the remaining 47 percent, only 9 percent were planning on taking a shorter trip, while 34 percent are going to make sacrifices in other areas to save money.

"The overall domestic economic picture continues to improve slightly, however, American consumers faced a new challenge this year as steadily increasing gas prices throughout the spring significantly squeezed many household budgets," said AAA president and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet.

One way drivers can save money is to make sure they are up to date on maintenance, which is especially important as they get ready to head off on a Memorial Day road trip. Before you hit the open road, the DMV recommends checking a few things including the motor oil, antifreeze and battery level to make sure you don't run into any problems during your trip.

In advance of your journey, you may also want to head to New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center. Its stable of talented mechanics will be able to identify any issues before you embark so you can enjoy your Memorial Day weekend without any speed bumps.