AAA projects Ohio hoilday travel increase

PITTSBURGH — AAA projects about 1.64 million Ohioans will travel at least 50 miles from home for their turkey and pumpkin pie this year; an 11.2 percent increase over 2009 when 1.47 million traveled.

The automobile is the preferred method of transportation as 1.54 million plan to drive to their destination. About 64,000 are expected to fly (up 3.3 percent) and 35,000 will travel by an alternative method of travel.

“Many Americans are in a better financial position than they were last year, although high unemployment and lingering economic uncertainly are still lingering concerns,” said Jim Lehman, executive vice president, AAA East Central. “Thanksgiving has always been a special time for families to visit their friends and loved ones. The trip will be even more special since some travelers elected to postpone their Thanksgiving celebrations last year.”

Nationally, AAA projected 42.2 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more away from home over the holiday weekend; an 11.4 percent increase over last year when 37.9 million traveled.

AAA East Central has offices in Ohio, western Pennyslvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and New York.