A new USA Today/Gallup poll suggests that despite soaring gas prices, relative high unemployment rates, and an economy still struggling to find its feet, more Americans are prioritizing vacation time in 2011.

Six in 10 respondents in the poll said that going somewhere on vacation is important to them this year despite 71 percent also admitting they will likely have to spend more on transportation than in years past.

Just 39 percent of those polled in May 2010 though they would be spending more on vacations last year than in 2009. That’s when gas prices averaged a “low” $2.80.

At the time the 2011 poll was conducted, the national average for a gallon of gas was $3.96.  

Source: MSNBC