RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — AAA Mid-Atlantic is predicting a record number of Virginians will travel this Fourth of July weekend, despite higher gas prices.

The auto club estimates 1.16 million Virginians will travel between Wednesday and Sunday, July 6. That would be a 1.9 percent increase over last Fourth of July weekend and the first increase since 2011.

More than 1 million of those travelers are expected to drive, even though gas costs about 16 cents per gallon more than it did a year ago. The average price in Virginia is $3.49 for a gallon of regular unleaded gas.

Air travel is also expected to increase slightly, with fliers taking advantage of fares that are 5 percent lower than last Fourth of July.

AAA says the travel increase reflects a boost in consumer confidence.

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