COLUMBUS – Despite high prices at the gas pump, Ohioans are expected to kick off the summer travel in near-record numbers, tripling the length of delays on major roads.
According to AAA, more than 1.5 million Ohioans will drive at least 50 miles from home during the Memorial Day holiday period, from Thursday, May 24, through Monday, May 28, according to the auto club AAA.
That is a 4.6 percent increase over last year, in spite of gas prices that are at three-year highs. Retail prices in the U.S. averaged $2.72 in April, an increase of 33 cents from last year, due to expensive crude oil, record gasoline demand and shrinking global supply.
“The highest gas prices since 2014 won’t keep travelers home this Memorial Day weekend,” said Bill Sutherland, senior vice president of AAA Travel and Publishing. “A strong economy and growing consumer confidence are giving Americans all the motivation they need to kick off what we expect to be a busy summer travel season with a Memorial Day getaway.”
The average price of gas in Columbus Monday morning was $ 2.81, an 18-cent jump in the last week, according to a daily survey from the AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and WEX, Inc.
Crude oil prices moved higher last week, following President Trump’s decision to re-impose economic sanctions on Iran and withdraw the U.S. from the Iran Nuclear Deal.
The auto club predicts 41.5 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend, nearly 5 percent more than last year and the most since 2005.
Global transportation analytics company INRIX expects travel delays on major roads could be up to three times longer than normal with the busiest days being Thursday and Friday as commuters mix with holiday travelers.