McClatchy Washington Bureau

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In March, Americans drove 11 billion fewer miles than in March of last year, the biggest year-over-year drop for any month since the Federal Highway Administration started tracking the information in 1942. Just last week, a new Zogby poll of 8,600 adults found that one-third planned no vacation at all this summer, and 28 percent said they would spend less. Another survey found that the number of people expecting to travel by fall had dipped to a 30-year low.

With fuel prices surging to new records almost daily, mobility is no longer a cheap afterthought, forcing many into a vexing rethink of summer plans.

"Americans don’t like to be tethered," said Dan McNichol, a highway historian and author of a book on the U.S. interstate system. "Americans are obsessed with freedom, and that means the freedom of mobility. They’re always wanting to hit the road. They’re always wanting to move about freely and quickly. We’re now faced with the severe cost of that mobility."

The result? Fewer vacations. Shorter distances. Not as many days on the road. It already shows up in the mobility numbers.

Susan Tretter never hesitated to hop in a car and take off for a relaxing lake vacation. After all, most Americans consider ease of movement as natural as free speech or fresh air. "I never thought twice about driving anywhere I wanted to go," Tretter said. Until now.

Read the full story at KansasCity.com.