Roads are expected to be jam packed this weekend with almost 90 percent of the more than 38 million Americans traveling by car. In Ohio 1.4 million people will drive to places like Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Carolina beaches.
Even though they are on their way up, lower gas prices are credited for this second-highest Memorial Day travel projection. It's the highest number of people traveling since 2005. AAA Spokeswoman Cindy Antrican says prices are still 19 cents lower than last year in Greater Cincinnati and 44 cents cheaper nationwide.
AAA estimates that Americans have saved $18 billion on gas so far this year compared to the same period in 2015.
When to leave? Travel experts, at least on the East Coast, say don't leave on Thursday, wait until Friday or later.
Air travel is expected to increase 1.6 percent over last year, with 2.6 million Americans taking to the skies this Memorial Day. AAA's Leisure Travel Index, the average airfares for the top 40 domestic flight routes, are 26 percent cheaper this Memorial Day, with an average round-trip ticket costing $165.
