MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) – We are heading into a busy week of travel. People are driving, flying or taking a train to their Thanksgiving destinations. AAA expects more than 40 million people will drive 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving, the most since 2007.
Sofia Lloreda and her family are from Puerto Rico. On Sunday evening they stopped at the rest area on I-95 southbound in Milford. They’ll be spending Thanksgiving with family in the United States.
“We’re going to see the Macy’s parade and then we’ll go eat dinner with family in New York,” said Lloreda.
They had company on the roads, and AAA expects the highways to be busy over the next several days. Many travelers got a head start on Sunday.
“We’re visiting friends and family along the way and we’re going to wind up in Atlanta,” said Richard LaPierre, who was coming from Rochester, New Hampshire.
Related: AAA predicting biggest Thanksgiving travel rush in 9 years
Why are more people expected to travel this year? AAA believes gas prices have a lot to do with it. Drivers are paying less at the pump and prices have been stable, even though they vary from state to state.
It’s #thanksgiving week – lots of people are already traveling for the #holiday #HolidayTravel @WTNH pic.twitter.com/icwxay7X3F
— Renee Chmiel (@ReneeChmiel) November 20, 2016
“Up in Maine it was $2.12, so that’s a lot cheaper than it is down here,” said Nancee Babirak, who was on her way to Philadelphia from Portland, Maine.
Not everyone is driving, however. AAA expects more than 3 million people will fly. Amtrak is expecting this to be the busiest travel week of the year. Still, AAA expects nearly 90 percent of travelers to drive.
“It wasn’t really bad,” said Babirak. “[My daughter] was driving and now I’m going to drive and it’s been okay.”
Connecticut State Police will be increasing patrols beginning on Wednesday and continuing through the holiday weekend.
