(CHARLOTTE) -- Triple-A Carolinas is forecasting a slight increase in Memorial Day travel over last year, and the agency is crediting not only a 12 cent drop in gas prices since peaking May 13, but also a slight decrease in the state's unemployment rate of a point and a half.

Estimates are that 865,000 North Carolinians will take a trip of 50 miles or more during the three-day holiday weekend. The state average for a gallon of unleaded regular now stands at $3.73, with Asheville having the highest price at just over $3.80 and High Point the lowest at $3.64.

AAA spokesman Brendan Byrnes says he has had reports of some areas around North Carolina with gas prices at $3.49, and he expects the price to drop even more next week.