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Travel increases for turkey day

Improved consumer confidence has led to boost, says AAA. conjunctions and punctuation.

With traffic already heavy at times along Interstate 75, AAA is projecting that highway travel will increase 1.4 percent this holiday season.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman With traffic already heavy at times along Interstate 75, AAA is projecting that highway travel will increase 1.4 percent this holiday season.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 1:15 AM Wednesday, November 25, 2009

More people will be going over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving this year.

AAA officials are estimating that 38.4 million travelers will drive or fly to a holiday destination 50 miles or more away this year, up 1.4 percent over last year.

The bump is mainly attributable to more people taking to their cars, as 33.2 million are expected to travel by car this year, compared to 32.5 million in 2008; an increase of 2.1 percent, according to the report.

In contrast, AAA said the number of travelers by air is expected to decline 6.7 percent to 2.3 million this year over last.

Last year, Thanksgiving travel dropped more than 25 percent as the housing and financial crisis hit. AAA officials said improved consumer confidence may be reflected by the increase in travel.

Garrett Richardson, 43, of Middletown said he can’t afford to fly to his brother’s house in Pennsylvania but he’s willing to drive to save money.

“I mean, the way you have to pay to even check a bag now, it’s ridiculous,” he said. “I’ll drive and even with food and a hotel it’s like, half the cost.”

Yvonne Smitley, 52, of Fairfield Twp. said she was filling up her car before Wednesday when pump prices will probably spike.

“You know it will go up just because it’s travel time. At least this tank will get me there and I will only have to pay more on the way back,” she said.

The price of gas has spiked since last Thanksgiving. According to cincygasprices.com, the average price in Greater Cincinnati is $2.57, up from $1.648 last year.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

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