Cherokee County will be a hot spot this holiday weekend, with crowds swarming Lake Allatoona and temperatures slipping below 90 degrees.

Department of Natural Resources Ranger Bart Hendrix said the lake has seen big crowds so far this summer.

"The lake in general is getting busier," he said. "People are saving their vacation money and spending more weekends on the lake."

Hendrix said while no extra patrols are planned, rangers will be out to enforce safety laws, especially life jackets.

"We have had three drownings on the lake this year," he said. "We are taking life jackets very seriously, especially on children."

All reservations for Allatoona campsites have been taken, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Some walk-up sites are available, but fill up quickly as the holiday approaches.

AAA Auto Club South expects 834,641 people will travel by car in Georgia for the holiday weekend, an 11-percent increase from last year.

"One reason is that last year, the economy was far worse," Jessica Brady, manager of public relations for AAA, said. "A lot of people missed out on a vacation last year. Consumer sentiment has improved and the economy is a little better."

She said gas prices also are not as high as expected.

"Some people thought we would be seeing $3 gasoline at this time, but it just hasn't happened," she said. "People are not going to miss out on a vacation this year."

The average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded in Cherokee County was $2.65 on Tuesday. The state average on Tuesday was $2.63, and the national average was $2.75.

Traveling by road in Georgia will be easier, as the Georgia Department of Transportation will scale back on construction projects in the northwest part of the state through Monday.

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office will have concentrated patrols in common problem areas during the weekend, Public Information Officer Lt. Jay Baker said.

The weather for the weekend should be nice, according to the National Weather Service.

Friday and Saturday before the holiday are predicted to be mostly sunny, and Sunday should be sunny with a high of 86 degrees.

Adam Jernigan of Love Is Loud Awareness, an organization that helps teens with self-hate and self-harm addictions, is selling fireworks in the parking lot of the Canton Walmart this week as a fundraiser.

He said most shoppers tell him they're sticking close to home for the holiday.

"People are not really going anywhere. They are having friends over and doing something for the kids," he said.