AAA predicts this year will have the highest volume of Thanksgiving travel since 2005.
The Florida-based travel association said last week more than 54 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home during the week of Thanksgiving. AAA estimates that will be 2.5 million travelers more than last year, just under a 5 percent increase.
4.1 million Texans will travel between Wednesday and Sunday, but the new trend is families getting an early start – leaving on Monday to beat the rush.
The vast majority of Thanksgiving travelers will hit the road. The travel group estimates that 48.5 million travelers will be driving.
"Also airports, the bus station, train stations – all of those will see an increase in travelers this year and the primary reason for that is we have a strong economy, consumer confidence is up and unemployment is low and families feel like they have the means to travel more for Thanksgiving to see their loved ones," said Daniel Armbuster with AAA Texas.
In Denton, I-35E became busier as people headed to their destinations.
"I grew up in Oklahoma City," said Taylor Harris of Dallas, who stopped for a break at the new Buc-ee's store in Denton. "We're going there to see my family. There's going to be about 22 of us in a two bedroom apartment."
More than 4.2 million travelers will be flying, and just under 1.5 million travelers will be taking trains, buses or cruise ships.
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AAA, along with the analytics company INRIX, predicts that drivers in San Francisco, New York and Boston will see the biggest holiday-related delays – almost four times normal drive times.
