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Holiday travel expected to be the busiest in years this Thanksgiving week

AAA said 90% of people will be driving to get to point A to point B. The busiest days on the road will be Wednesday, the day before thanksgiving and Sunday when everyone is heading back. But just like you make preps for thanksgiving dinner you should do the same for your vehicle.

Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- It's almost time to hit the road or the air to visit family and friends for Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving is the busiest travel weekend of the year. AAA is expecting the next few days to be busier then ever before.

This Thanksgiving AAA is anticipating more than 700,000 people from South Carolina to be traveling, that is the highest since 2005.

The holidays can be a time of happiness but can also add a lot of stress. Many drive, fly, take a bus or train to travel to be with loved ones, but packing patience is a must when you hit the road.

"Plan ahead map your route out ahead of time, figure out which way you want to go," AAA Spokesperson Ernie King said. "Try to leave early if you can to beat some of the traffic and just take your time. Don't rush, pay attention to the others on the road and just be careful, and try to enjoy the ride if you can."

AAA said 90% of people will be driving to get to point A to point B. The busiest days on the road will be Wednesday, the day before thanksgiving and Sunday when everyone is heading back. But just like you make preps for thanksgiving dinner you should do the same for your vehicle.

"Get your oil changed, get your tire pressure checked, your batteries tested just to kind of prepare to make sure that doesn't happen," King said.

If you are a first time flyer and booked a ticket instead of driving make sure to give yourself plenty of extra time.

"During the holidays there are a lot of first time flyers and maybe it's just folks not allowing enough time to park, to get inside the building, check their luggage, there's a lot of things like that from first time flyers," Columbia Metropolitan Airport Public Relations Manager Lynne Douglas said.

Either way to decide to travel, making sure you get there safely is the number one priority. If you are flying, airlines recommend giving yourself that extra time and to arrive at least one hour and thirty minutes before your flight. If you are traveling with gifts, wait until you are at your destination to unwrap them.

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