CITY GETTING OUT OF TOWN.

Byline: Sharline Chiang Daily News Staff Writer

Memorial Day weekend, starting today, promises to be the busiest day of the year on highways and at airports and the first of four picnic-perfect days for stay-at-homes.

A healthy economy and low air fares are expected to push this year's Memorial Day weekend travel to new records, according to aviation and automobile agencies.

The airline industry expects today to be the busiest day in aviation history. Nationwide, more than 2 million people are expected to fly at the start of this weekend, according to the Air Transport Association of America, which represents the nation's largest air carriers.

Los Angeles World Airports - the city department that oversees Los Angeles International Airport and airports in Ontario, Van Nuys and Palmdale - expects as many as 3 percent more travelers from Memorial Day weekend last year.

``Many airlines are expecting a 90 percent load factor for this weekend, which means they've already sold 90 percent of the seats,'' said airports spokeswoman Cora Fossett.

The Automobile Club of Southern California predicts residents in the West will take the most road trips compared to the rest of the nation.

About 6.9 million West Coasters are projected to hit the road between today and Monday, up 5 percent from last year.

``It's a record. It's an overall feeling that they're more confident about traveling,'' said Jeff Spring, spokesman of the Automobile Club of Southern California in Costa Mesa.

The most popular destinations by car in Southern California will most likely be San Diego, San Francisco, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Disneyland, Spring said.

Area amusement parks, including Universal Studios, Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm and SeaWorld, also expect to see throngs of crowds pass through their gates.

Even for those staying home, stellar weather this weekend should lure most people outdoors - if only to their back yards.

Across the San Fernando Valley on Thursday, businesses from ice-cream stores to pool cleaners were beginning to enjoy a surge in sales of summer-related merchandise and services. Supermarkets and drugstores prominently displayed grills, colorful beach balls, coolers, and folding beach chairs.

Today is the day the Vons in Woodland Hills will see barbecue supplies start doing the disappearing act off shelves, employees said.

``Ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard . . . they tend to really take off,'' said Randy Reyes, senior supervisor.

Doreen Gallette, owner of Korth's Patio and Fireside Shop in Granada Hills, has already seen more people coming in for barbecue grill supplies and patio furniture.

``Everybody's tired of the rain and they can't wait to get out into their back yards,'' she said.

The five-day forecast calls for hazy sunshine throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, with highs in the mid-60s at beaches and in the 80s in the Valleys. Lows will hover around the 50s.

Nights and mornings will bring low clouds and local fog. Monday and Tuesday will be a bit cooler during the day, with highs in the Valleys only expected to reach into the mid-70s.

``We're under high-pressure areas which we will probably continue to be under for the rest of the spring and the summer,'' according to Vladimir Ryshko, meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Oxnard forecast office.

Those heading to the mountains can expect mostly clear weather, with some high clouds coming in on Tuesday. Lows will range in the 30s to 40s, with highs in the 60s to 70s.

Happy campers should already have reservations. Many campsites at state parks in Ventura County have been reserved for weeks - if not months - in advance of this weekend.

``We're booked solid for campgrounds,'' said Russ Guiney, the Malibu region superintendent with the state Parks Department. ``If people are hoping to come out here and find a campsite, I would recommend they look elsewhere.''

Campsites at Emma Wood, McGrath, Carpinteria and El Capitan state beaches are all full, too.

The few sites still available Thursday afternoon - at Hobson County Park northwest of Ventura, and at Foster County Park, near Lake Casitas - were expected to be gone by nightfall.

GETAWAY TRAVEL TIPS

Traffic on getaway day today and during the entire Memorial Day weekend will be a crush for motorists - and it will be made worse by a confluence of graduations, the L.A. Lakers' playoff game and a weekend of long-awaited clear, warm weather. Police and others remind motorists and fliers to buckle up and don't drink and drive. They offer these tips for easing your travel:

Travel very early today or on Saturday and Sunday, when most others aren't.

``All major arteries coming in and out of Los Angeles are expected to be extremely heavy with vacationers throughout the weekend, especially on Friday and Monday,'' said CHP spokesman Evan Robinson.

Take a break during long car trips. Stop for 10 minutes every two hours, get out of the car and stretch to freshen the driver's reactions. Stock up on water, check oil and coolant levels before departing.

Avoid the Golden State, Ventura and San Diego freeways on Monday, when the CHP expects Angelenos to be returning en masse from trips up the coast and to the Sierra.

Call your airline well before departure to ensure the trip is departing on schedule. Bring photo identification.

Allow extra time - at least two hours before domestic flights, three hours before international flights - to arrive at airports.

SOURCES: California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles World Airports, Automobile Club of Southern California.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, box

PHOTO At Leo Carillo State Beach, the Volkov and Gilbert families get an early start on Memorial Day weekend.

Gus Ruelas/Daily News

Box: Getaway travel tips (see text)