This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer camping and travel season.

Expect thousands of Utahns to head to state and national parks, national forests and Bureau of Land Management areas or to stay closer to home for canyon or park picnics.

Many northern and central Utah and high-country campgrounds are open, but campers who head into the mountains or some of the big reservoirs should be prepared for low temperatures.

If you don't have reservations at a state or federal camping facility or for a motel in tourist hot spots such as Moab, Springdale, St. George or Torrey, it would be a good idea to try to find a last-minute reservation, look for a private campground or find areas where dispersed camping is available.

Patience might also be required when visiting national parks such as Arches, Canyonlands and Zion, where some full parking lots and traffic jams are expected. Families going there would be well-advised to follow those parks on Twitter or Facebook to get immediate updates on waits and parking.

Expect full campgrounds at Goblin Valley, Dead Horse Point, Green River, Millsite, Coral Pink, Escalante, Snow Canyon and Kodachrome Basin state parks.

Closer to the Wasatch Front, facilities at Deer Creek, East Canyon, Jordanelle, Willard Bay and Hyrum may have a few spots available, though most of the developed sites have been reserved.

The U.S. Forest Service will have most southern Utah campgrounds open with water for the busy weekend. Popular Salt Lake County facilities the Spruces and Tanner Flat will be open as well.

While the Mirror Lake Highway is expected to be open between Kamas and Evanston for the holiday, there is still heavy snow in many areas. Only lower-elevation campgrounds will be open for the holiday.

Forest Service spokeswoman Kathy Jo Pollock reminded visitors to the higher country that rivers, streams and creeks are running high and fast and are dangerous.

"Please be careful and keep a watchful eye on children and pets while recreating in these areas, especially in campgrounds near water sources," she said.

A number of festivals and special events add to Memorial Day fun.

Camp Floyd State Park near Fairfield is hosting a Civil War Encampment all weekend. The event will allow visitors to experience camp life and participate in several activities performed by soldiers of Johnston's Army. Children can learn military drills with a toy musket or wear a period uniform. Stagecoach rides will be available Monday.

Spring City's annual Heritage Day with historic home tours, breakfast and lunch is scheduled Saturday. Ephraim's popular Scandinavian Days are set Friday and Saturday and include food and craft vendors, a parade, fun runs, mountain-bike races and entertainment.

Strawberry visitors are invited to see and photograph spawning cutthroat trout near the visitor center just off U.S. 40.

Nationally, Memorial Day is huge for retailers and the travel industry.

Wallethub reports that 89 percent of Memorial Day weekend travelers will drive to their destination, a 2.1 percent increase from 2015. It said that 818 hot dogs are consumed every second from Memorial Day to Labor Day, a total of 7 billion.

The U.S. Travel Association said travelers are expected to spend $12 million in the United States during the upcoming weekend, with 38 million Americans expected to travel 50 miles or more.

That private group worries that crowded airport security lines and traffic-choked highways could make the travel experience more difficult.

"What we're seeing is that the demand for travel is greater than ever — but that leads to the question of whether our transportation infrastructure is equipped to support that job-creating activity," said U.S. Travel President and CEO Roger Dow. "Unfortunately, the overwhelming body of evidence tells us the answer is no."

The travel group said that while most Memorial Day weekend travelers will embark on road trips, spending an average of $220 each on lodging, restaurants and entertainment, a significant impact will be felt from spending by air travelers—a hefty $990 each, on average.

Twitter: @tribtomwharton —

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