Tourists are stubbornly holding on to their vacation plans this holiday, despite record-breaking gas prices, tourism officials say.

The long Memorial Day weekend tends to be the kick-off for state parks and local traveling, and that hasn't changed much so far, said Sarah Otte Coleman, director of the state Department of Commerce Tourism Division.

"Our indicators are that people are not curtailing travel because of (gas prices),"said Otte Coleman.

Although travelers are still traveling, the type of traveler may be changing, said Gene LaDoucer, spokesperson for AAANorth Dakota.

"Locally, what it looks like, is we're seeing a lot of people who are calling and requesting information on destinations closer to home,"LaDoucer said. "There's just not much looking beyond a couple hundred miles."

By the end of last week, gas prices were hovering around $3.30 for regular unleaded. The previously held average record high for North Dakota was $3.18 a gallon for regular unleaded. Late last summer, Bismarck prices launched into the high $3.20s, but rarely broached the $3.40 mark as they have in the past couple of weeks.

Those prices tend to affect what types of destinations travelers choose, LaDoucer said.

"Looking longer term, what we're seeing is there's still interest in some longer trips, but by and large, the most popular destinations are national parks,"LaDoucer said. "Again, that's something we generally see when gas prices get really high. People go places where they can enjoy a longer vacation without the added expense of things that carry a larger price tag to visit."

Donna Schouweiler, public information officer for North Dakota Parks and Recreation, said she anticipates seeing more North Dakota license plates in the parks this year.

"What we'll be seeing probably are a lot more North Dakotans visiting the parks because of the high gas prices,"she said. "To pull a camper or boat long distances out of state, I think that'll be a consideration because of vacation plans."

In support of that, she said more people are storing their boats or RVs at parks where those options are available.

"That's certainly something to look in to with higher gas prices,"she said.

In-state visitors to state parks have steadily increased over the past few years, following rising gas price trends. Last year, local visitors of state parks made up 72.6 percent of travelers. The year before, 68.8 percent were from North Dakota.

And while campsite visitation has seemed to also steadily increase over the past couple of years, Schouweiler said, they don't expect increased visitation this year.

"It might even out without the in-state visitors,"Schouweiler said.

Otte Coleman and LaDoucer both said the that although gas prices are not curbing vacations, they may be affecting spending.

Which is what North Dakota lottery director Chuck Keller is blaming for low lottery ticket sales.

"Consumers have a limited amount of disposable income, and when they're filling their tanks with gas at the pump, they're making a decision," Keller said. "Because they're paying out more for fuel, there's going to be less money left over for other disposable items, whether it's pop, candy or lottery tickets."

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park has suffered a little more in May than usual, said Tracy Potter, director of the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation. Normally, he said, they see a lot of school groups passing through.

But not this year.

"I think that everybody in the tourism business in conscious of gas prices,"Potter said. "It definitely has an impact. We've shifted more towards the local market, and we've shifted our marketing more. We think locals may make up the difference."

(Reach reporter Crystal Reid at 250-8261 or crystal.reid@;bismarcktribune.com.)