AAA predicts record travelers Memorial Day weekend

AAA: 36.1 million Americans to travel, 1.87 million Floridians

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Many of you will be packing your bags and heading out of town for Memorial Day weekend.

AAA predicts more people will travel this Memorial Day weekend than any other since the recession.

After a long winter that even stretched into Spring throughout parts of the country, people are ready to make the most out of Memorial Day.

"We're going from Friday and coming back memorial day that afternoon, so it ought to be pretty interesting," said Kyle Carr.

Carr, of Orange Park, knows he could be in for a long ride on his road trip to Georgia for Memorial Day weekend. He's one of millions AAA predicts will leave home this weekend to celebrate the holiday.

The travel organization predicts 36.1 million Americans will travel Memorial Day weekend, including more than 1.87 million Floridians.

It expects travelers will venture 50 or more miles away from home, which is a 1.5 percent increase over last year.

Nationwide, travel between Thursday and Monday is projected to be the second highest since 2000, after 2005.

Beverly Akins owns a Jacksonville limo service and is looking forward to the boost in business she expects to get from the increase in travelers.

"I'm sure we will be very busy and we will have a lot of people flying in, so we will take them from the airport to the hotels at the beaches and all around Jacksonville," said Akins.

As someone who drives for a living, she wants to remind everyone hitting the road to be safe.

"Take your time, don't rush. Pay attention to what's going on around you and watch out for bicyclists and motor bikes, always keep a lookout for those guys it's hard to see them," said Akins.

AAA said the number of people in Florida traveling by road, rail and sky this year will increase in each category, but said the majority of people will travel by road.