Lake Lanier Islands Resort won’t be hurting for business this weekend.

With people across the country traveling fewer miles this Independence Day holiday, every houseboat, lakehouse, villa and lodge room is already booked for the weekend, resort spokeswoman Stephanie Orr said.

It’s better business than the resort did last July 4, and seems to confirm predictions that fewer families will take long trips for the holiday, Orr said.

"The staying close to home thing is having a great impact on us, because we are sold out," Orr said. "Folks are deciding to do something close to home, but still make a weekend out of it."

Orr said the majority of the resort’s guests come from Georgia, followed by a few other neighboring states. Hall and Gwinnett County residents make up the bulk of Lake Lanier Islands’ beach and waterpark business.

In this recession economy, the "stay-cation" has entered the American lexicon, and the numbers back it up.

About 1 million Georgians are expected to take to the highways this weekend, but nationally the total estimate of 37.1 million travelers is off by almost 2 percent from 2008, according to AAA Auto Club South.

The organization attributes the dip in travel to consumer concerns over personal finances, rising unemployment and a sluggish economy.

A survey commissioned by the National Retail Federation and conducted last month found that 44.5 percent of Americans would change their Independence Day plans on account of higher gas prices.

"With gas prices on the rise again, some Americans will opt to spend the weekend close to home, taking advantage of neighborhood gatherings and local celebrations," said Phil Rist, executive vice president of consumer survey firm BIGresearch.

The survey found that 62 percent of adults planned to celebrate the Fourth with a cookout or picnic and 42 percent planned on attending a fireworks display or other community celebration. Of those surveyed about how gas prices have affected their spending, 36 percent said they have cut down on vacations and other travel.

Still, gas prices are nothing like they were last July 4, when the average national price per gallon was $4.10.

On Wednesday the average price for gas in Georgia was $2.47 per gallon and had dropped by 4 cents in the last week.

"All the indicators are that the peak price is behind us and we can now expect retail gasoline prices to edge downward, even as we approach the Independence Day weekend," AAA Auto Club South spokesman Gregg Laskoski said.

As always, public safety officials are stressing caution for those who do hit the road.

During last year’s Independence Day holiday, 22 people were killed and 910 were injured in 1,860 traffic crashes on Georgia roads. Two of those deaths were alcohol-related. The risk for alcohol-related crashes is greater for this year’s 78-hour Independence Day holiday period, which begins today at 6 p.m. and ends on midnight Sunday, according to Georgia Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bill Hitchens.

"Anytime a holiday period falls on a weekend, there is an increased chance of encountering an alcohol-impaired driver as you travel," Hitchens said.