COLUMBUS – Like the rest of the country, holiday travel in Ohio is expected to hit near-record levels over the Christmas/New Year holiday.
The AAA projects 4.7 million Ohioans will travel over the 10-day year-end holiday travel, 4.3 million of them by car and another and another 270,000 by air. That represents a 2.6% increase over last year and the second-highest year-end travel volume, behind only 2019.
“If there is one thing we have seen at AAA throughout the year, it is pent-up demand for travel. Whether people are hitting the road for a visit with friends and family, or planning a more significant getaway, there is little discouraging them,” AAA Club Alliance public affairs manager Kara Hitchens said.
The auto club predicts more than 744,484 people will travel by car in central Ohio and another 45,907 will fly to their destinations.
Nationally, AAA projects 115.2 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the holiday period.
Drivers will enjoy the lowest gas prices in over a year. The national average price has been trending downward for the better part of three months now with prices hovering around $3.10 per gallon, though the average price in Ohio is closer to $2/.75.
“As we close out 2023, holiday motorists are getting the gift of lower prices at the pump,” Hitchens said.
AAA recommends motorists keep an eye out for situations where emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility service vehicles or disabled vehicles are stopped on the side of the road. “Move Over laws” are on the books in all 50 states to protect tow truck drivers, road construction workers and other first responders.
Ohio’s current Move Over law requires drivers to stop when coming from any direction and approaching any moving authorized emergency vehicle using red or amber signals or lights and move over and slow down when passing a vehicle displaying amber or yellow flashing lights.