The American Automobile Association estimates that 27 million people will hit the roads during the Memorial Day weekend.

The approaching summer vacation time holds local and national promise.

AAA is estimating a 1.5 percent increase in travel from last year, said Mike Right, media vice president for the travel club.

"I think it will be a good travel season for trips of shorter duration and distances," Mr. Right said.

Travel in the United States dropped after 9/11, but began rebounding year by year until the economy started going sour in 2008, Mr. Right said. Everyone had to economize on costs, he said.

But that could benefit local museums.

A lot of the attendance increases at the Pony Express Museum are due to more people taking short trips from Kansas City, St. Louis and Omaha, Neb., said Cindy Daffron, museum director.

This summer, the federal government estimates don't project a return to $4-a-gallon gasoline, Mr. Right said. Federal regulators estimate that gas will be down $1.50 compared to last year, topping out at $2.30 per gallon in July, he said.

With short trips for fewer days being the norm, it can still be a good summer for St. Joseph's tourism industry. "I would hope so, but it depends on what they're marketing," Mr. Right said.

Through the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Pony Express Museum has had good exposure in travel magazines, Ms. Daffron said. "Ever since last October, we've not had a bad day," she said, adding that more than 200 people have visited the museum most weekends.

Magazine exposure, combined with the opening of the Remington Nature Center, has the Pony Express Museum headed for a record-breaking year in the eight months before the 150th anniversary celebrations start in 2010. Attendance is already up 20 percent in the first quarter, combined with a 50 percent increase in sales in the museum gift shop, Mrs. Daffron said.

Coupons are partially the reason, as the museum found that if it gave free admission coupons, visitors were more inclined to spend money in the gift shop, Mrs. Daffron said.

Gift shop sales are up at the Nature Center as well. Sales are growing, with rubber snakes and stuffed animals being the best sellers in the gift shop, said Barbara Russell, an administrative technician at the center.

Attendance at the Remington Center peaked at 6,000 during November. "I think there was a lot of anticipation from people waiting for it to happen," said Bill France, a city parks and recreation official.

Attendance bottomed in December to a low of 1,500, but has increased each month since.

There were 2,200 visits in January, 2,400 in February, 3,300 in March, and 4,800 in April, Ms. Russell said. Attendance in the three summer months is projected to continue climbing, she said. In the first half of May, the center already had 3,500 visitors, Ms. Russell said.

The center just added its new bee exhibition, where visitors can see bees making honey.

Marshall White can be reached

at marshall@npgco.com.