Over 1 Million Ohioans​​ To Hit The Road This Memorial Day: Study

OHIO — Memorial Day travel is once again on the rise in Ohio and across the country, a study from AAA found. While travel rates are not expected to fully return to normal this spring, nearly 60 percent more Ohioans will hit the road this month than last year during the peak of the pandemic.

According to the study, more than 37 million Americans will travel during Memorial Day weekend, which runs from May 27 to 31. Of those, approximately 92 percent are expected to drive to their destinations.

That number is even higher in Ohio, where 95 percent of the state's 1.36 million seasonal travelers will do so by car.

Similarly, only some 61,000 Ohioans will travel by plane this year, up 564 percent from 2020, according to AAA. While travel rates are again rising, 30 percent fewer people will travel in 2021 compared to pre-pandemic 2019.

According to AAA, the top Memorial Day destinations include Orlando, Las Vegas, Honolulu, Anchorage and Colorado Springs.

Traveling Ohioans are expected to roll their way to Columbus, Cincinnati and Cleveland this holiday. Other destinations for Ohioans include Nashville, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh.

“As more people get the COVID-19 vaccine and consumer confidence grows, Americans are demonstrating a strong desire to travel this Memorial Day,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “This pent-up demand will result in a significant increase in Memorial Day travel, which is a strong indicator for summer, though we must all remember to continue taking important safety precautions.”

While millions of Americans have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, AAA recommends that travelers work with travel agents in planning holiday trips. Agents can help plan around unexpected changes — including those caused by the coronavirus pandemic — and prepare for the unexpected with travel insurance.