COLUMBUS – Ohioans are expected to put down the TV remote and hit the road in record numbers for the July 4th weekend.
Auto club AAA predicts 1.9 million Ohioans will be among the record 44.2 million people who will travel at least 50 miles from home, a 3.1 percent increase over last year.
The auto club’s analysts credit the increase to overall economic growth, strong employment and rising incomes, all of which have boosted consumer confidence and spending.
The vast majority will go by car, including 1.7 million Ohio motorists, spurred by gas prices at the lowest levels of the year.
The nationwide figure is a 2.9 percent increase over last year, which was a record for the holiday.
Average gas prices (Fri., June 30)
Akron…..$1.99
Cleveland….$2.09
COLUMBUS…..$2.12
Dayton, Toledo…$2.12
Cincinnati….$2.16
Ohio………..$2.11/gal.
Indiana…….$2.12
Kentucky…..$2.13
W. Virginia…$2.28
Michigan……$2.31
Pennsylvania…$2.43
-Source: AAA Fuel Gauge Report
Air travel over the holiday – Friday through Tuesday — is also expected to rise for the eighth straight year.
Fourth of July is typically the busiest summer travel holiday, since school is out and many families take their big summer trip during this time.