COLUMBIA, S.C. — As Thanksgiving approaches, a massive surge in holiday travel has swept across the nation, with millions of Americans taking to the skies and hitting the roads to reunite with loved ones.
According to AAA, a staggering 55.4 million Americans are embarking on journeys of 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, marking a 2.3% increase from last year and making it the third-highest Thanksgiving travel forecast since tracking began in 2000.
Families were seen packing up their cars and setting their GPS for destinations near and far.
"We're from South Florida, and we're headed to Maryland," traveler, Alejandro Contreras said.
Tiffany Wright, Director of Public Affairs for AAA Carolinas, highlighted the significance of this year's travel surge.
"This year is huge. If we're talking about road travel, you can expect about 18,000 more vehicles on the roadways than this time last year," Wright said." The good news is, although there will be more congestion, you'll be paying less at the pump."
The busiest travel day was anticipated to be today, and law enforcement agencies like the South Carolina Highway Patrol were out in full force to ensure safe travel.
Lance Corporal William Bennett with South Carolina Highway Patrol said their focus is on preventing accidents.
"We're looking for people who are speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, if you are not wearing a seatbelt or impaired driving, all the things we look for every day," Bennett said. "We do have an increased number of troopers out working the holiday period."
For those hitting the road, AAA recommends leaving before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for the smoothest travel experience.
Bennett advised travelers to check their vehicles thoroughly before embarking on their journeys. "Things like your headlights, your windshield wipers, check your tires, tire pressure, you know to make sure all your fluid levels are topped off before you leave the house," Bennett said. "Make sure you have a charged phone, pack things like a spare tire."
As travelers head back home, AAA predicts Sunday to be the second busiest day.
"If your travel plans allow you to leave before, I would say noon and then after 5 p.m., that's when you will see the least amount of congestion," Wright said. "But let's face it, it's going to be a busy travel holiday period."
Despite the potential challenges on the road, many travelers we talked to to were positive about their journeys.
"It's been smooth sailing," Contreras said.
Others, like Lamar Garrard traveling from Augusta to Dunn, North Carolina, noted steady traffic. "The traffic is pretty steady, Garrard said. "In fact, I think it will be heavier as the day goes on."
As families cross the country for Thanksgiving, the roads sometimes become a backdrop for unexpected reunions.
Travelers Vann Pennell found himself unexpectedly running into familiar faces from years past at a rest area on I-20. "It's kinda neat, like we said, we stopped here to go to the restroom and I'm a high school principal so I happened to see one of my graduates come up from the class of 2014. It's kinda neat to run into people you least expect."
Mr. Pennell was the best high school principal ever," Ethan Griggs said. "It was 10 years ago. 10 years ago I graduated, so it's just so cool to see him."
AAA predicts they will rescue over 10,000 motorists over the holiday period, the majority due to flat tires and dead batteries.