Nearly 1.45 million Ohioans will travel at least 50 miles from home this Memorial Day holiday weekend, according to AAA Ohio. The forecast is a 4.7-percent increase in Ohio from 2014 — and marks the highest travel volume in 10 years.
Improvements in several key economic factors, along with lower gas prices, are driving this holiday’s expected travel increase.
“A strong employment market and low gas prices have driven consumer optimism to new highs and boosted Americans’ disposable income,” said Marshall Doney, AAA chief operating officer.
An estimated 88.6 percent of American travelers (nearly 33million) and nearly 91 percent of Ohio travelers, (1.3 million) will drive to their destinations this Memorial Day. Nearly 350,000 of these motorists will turn to AAA for roadside assistance with dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts over the holiday weekend. Motorists should have their vehicle inspected before hitting the road.
Lower gas prices are prompting more Americans to take road trips this year. According to AAA’s recent consumer gas price index survey, 60 percent of motorists said they’d be more likely to take a road trip this year if gas prices remain near recent levels.
AAA expects nearly 2.6 million Americans, including more than 75,600 Ohioans, to travel by air this holiday, a 2.4 percent increase nationally and a 2.3 percent increase in Ohio. Lower fuel costs have led to slightly lower airfares than Memorial Day 2014. Average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes are 2 percent cheaper this year at $222.
Popular Destinations:
Memorial Day kicks off the busy summer travel season. Based on more than 20,000 online TripTik routings, favorite vacation destinations for Ohioans include:
• Orlando, FL
• Myrtle Beach, SC
• New York, NY
• Fort Myers, FL
• Phoenix, AZ
• Nashville, TN
• Las Vegas, NV
• Boston, MA
• Daytona Beach, FL
• Chicago, IL
Other popular Memorial Day travel destinations for travelers across the country, according to AAA travel bookings, include: Fort Lauderdale, FL; Los Angeles, CA; Branson, MO; Miami, FL; Ashville, NC; and Charleston, SC.
Car Rentals and Hotels Prices Rise:
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, the average daily car rental rate this Memorial Day is $19 higher than last year at $63 per day. The average nightly stay in a Two Diamond hotel is 16 percent higher this year at $144, while Three Diamond hotels will cost 7 percent more at $182.
Where are you traveling to this Memorial Day weekend? Tell us in a comment below! Safe and happy travels, friends!
