Travel expert expects more than 40 million to hit the road

By: Sean Moody - Email

Updated: Wed 12:55 PM, Nov 21, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky (WKYT) - Travel experts say today is one of the busiest days on the country's highways. They expect tens of millions to be making their way to a Thanksgiving some distance from home.

A AAA spokesperson says they expect to see about 43 million people driving more than 50 miles from home for Thanksgiving today. He says 2008 was a decade low for travel due to the economy, but as it's recovered each year, more people are traveling. This would be about a one percent increase over last year. One of the main concerns for travelers is gas prices, according to gasbuddy.com, gas stations here in Lexington saw about a 30 cent increase overnight. AAA says they don't see a reason for that increase, and drivers should be concerned with finding the lowest price possible.

"Buy gas wherever you see it advertised cheapest. Don't worry about it being possibly damaging to your vehicle because it's cheap gas. It's all the same stuff. It's a very tightly-regulated industry," said Christopher Oakford, a spokesperson for AAA.

Oakford said it's also important to remember that all the people leaving home for Thanksgiving have to come back at some point. He said to look for heavy traffic this weekend as well.

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