Ohioans Will Travel At Pre-Pandemic Rates For Thanksgiving 2021

OHIO — Buckeye State residents are not skipping any holiday travel plans this year.

According to travel organization AAA, Ohio residents plan to travel by plane, train and automobile at pre-pandemic rates for Thanksgiving. Between Nov. 24 and Nov. 28, approximately 2.2 million Ohioans will leave their homes and hit the road. That's up 13 percent from 2020.

“This Thanksgiving, travel will look a lot different than last year,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel. “Now that the borders are open and new health and safety guidelines are in place, travel is once again high on the list for Americans who are ready to reunite with their loved ones for the holiday.”

Live in Cleveland? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone.

When to Leave, How to Travel

Thanksgiving travel volumes in Ohio will be within 6.5 percent of 2019, AAA said. However, 2021's travel rates will be the fourth-highest on record, so we can safely say that pre-pandemic holiday travel rates are back.

In Ohio, air travel will be particularly popular this holiday season. AAA estimates that air travel will nearly completely recover from its pandemic woes and will be up approximately 81.5 percent versus 2020.

However, driving will continue to be the most popular form of Thanksgiving travel. Approximately 89 percent of Ohioans plan to drive to their destination this year.

That will mean added traffic congestion on Ohio's highways. According to AAA, the worst time to be on the road will be Wednesday afternoon and evening, due to rush hour mixing with holiday traffic, and Sunday afternoon when everyone returns home.

Due to the expected increase in traffic, the Ohio Department of Transportation is temporarily suspending many of its projects to keep lanes open. However, with increased traffic comes the possibility of increased traffic accidents.

"The Ohio State Highway Patrol reminds motorists to buckle up, never drive impaired and always follow traffic laws. Last year during the Thanksgiving holiday reporting period, there were 11 fatal crashes that killed 11 people on Ohio’s roadways. Five of those fatalities were the result of impaired driving and four were unbuckled when a seat belt was available. Troopers will have an increased presence on Ohio’s roadways to promote a safe Thanksgiving holiday," the organizaiton said.