AAA projects more people will travel on roadways this year.
More of us will be hitting the road for the un-official start of summer. AAA projects 34.8 million Americans, including more than 1.3 million Ohioans, will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend. This is an increase of 1.2 percent nationwide and 0.9 percent for Ohio.
88 percent of travelers will get to their destination by driving, but AAA found fewer of us will fly.
"Air travel is expected to decrease about 5.5 percent nationally and about 6 percent in Ohio," said AAA Ohio spokesperson Kimberly Schwind.
Schwind blames a restructuring in the air travel industry and high fuel costs for a steady increase in average airfare for the decrease.
High gas prices aren't keeping Americans at home, but Schwind says it is impacting how they travel.
According to a survey of traveler intentions, Americans will travel an average of 642 miles, which is 150 miles less than last year’s average distance of 792 miles. The decline in air travel and high gas prices are both factors in the travel distance decrease. AAA also found 34 percent of travelers also plan to stay at a lower priced hotel with another 31 percent opting to room with friends or family.
"We're seeing more people taking cruises, tours, all-inclusive resorts, things that they can pay up front and they know that their entertainment is included and everything is included in the price," Schwind said.
