LIMA, OH (WLIO) – This week, the summer travel season kicks off, and AAA is expecting a high number of people hitting the road and the skies for Memorial Day weekend.

They are predicting that nearly 44 million people will be traveling 50 miles or more this week for the holiday. That includes one point six million Ohioans. That is a four percent increase over last year’s numbers. AAA says that this weekend could match and possibly beat the record set back in 2005, and travel experts suggest checking your car out before you leave and making sure you give yourself some extra time to get to where you are going. 

“There is definitely going to be a lot more people out there this year. We are looking at another 4% increase. Every year, the numbers keep going up. So, a lot more people are going to be out on the road and at the airport. So, we are seeing a lot more increase both at the airport, train stations, and even bus stations,” says Cindy Nelson, Lima AAA.

And Memorial Day weekend could be the start of a busy summer travel season. 

“We are definitely looking at a lot of vacations for this summer. Everybody is ready to just get out, get going, and seeing the country,” adds Nelson. “This year, specifically, we are seeing a lot of people heading up to Alaska, and the national parks are always, always very big popular destinations. Especially with the new national park here in Ohio over at Cuyahoga Valley.” 

The busiest travel times this week are expected to be Thursday and Friday afternoons.