Low gas prices good news for 1.4 million Ohio vacation travelers, AAA says

AAA of the Miami Valley offered the following online resources for drivers traveling on the Fourth of July holiday:

To find gas prices across the country visit: http://www.fuelgaugereport.aaa.com/

To view a full guide on state motor vehicle laws such as seatbelt and cell phone laws, visit: http://drivinglaws.aaa.com

Highway travel will peak this week as 1.7 million Ohioans hit the road for Fourth of July vacations, AAA of the Miami Valley predicted Tuesday.

Today should be the day of heaviest travel, AAA added, as 1.4 million of those traveling from Ohio hit the road in motor vehicles planning to travel at least 50 miles or more.

AAA said the top destinations for Miami Valley vacationers are beach vacations in the Carolinas at Myrtle Beach, Destin and Hilton Head; Mackinac Island in Michigan, Walt Disney resorts in the Orlando, Fla. area, Niagara Falls, New York, and Gatlinburg, Tenn.

AAA predicted that the roads will be busy nationwide, with 40.8 million Americans making a holiday trip, 34.4 million by car. AAA defines the holiday travel period as today until Sunday, July 7.

This year, Miami Valley area residents are basking in the sunshine of lower gas prices with the average at $3.20 a gallon. On their routes, drivers to the most popular destinations should be able to fill up along the way for $3.50 per gallon or less, except for those visiting Niagara Falls. In New York state, the average price is $3.71 per gallon. The current national average is $3.48 a gallon.

AAA spokeswoman Cindy Antrican urged drivers to be cautious and allow plenty of time to their destination. “Be patient. The highways will be crowded and there will be delays,” she said.