AAA projects that fewer Americans will travel during the July 4th holiday weekend this year than in 2008.

Citing research conducted by IHS Global Insight, the company expects 37.1 million Americans will take a trip of 50 or more miles during the weekend, which is typically the busiest time of the year for auto travel. That would be down 1.9 percent from the 37.8 million who traveled during the same period last year, and down 12.3 percent from 42.3 million in 2007.

Although air travel will account for only 5 percent of July 4th leisure travel, the industry is expected to see a 4.9 percent increase in bookings for the weekend this year. On the other hand, AAA projects a 2.6 percent decline in auto trips, dropping from 33.4 million last year to 32.6 million in 2009.

In addition to rising gas prices, plummeting airfare prices are influencing travel patterns. According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, the lowest average published airfares over the Independence Day weekend are expected to decrease 16 percent from last year.