Highways crowded as families head out for Thanksgiving

FORT MITCHELL, Ky. - As Thanksgiving approaches, more of us are heading out and traveling more than 50 miles from home to celebrate the holiday with family and friends this year.

AAA predicts anywhere from 38 million to 42 million Americans will be hitting the highways or catching a plane during the Thanksgiving week. That's about 4 percent more than last year, and the biggest Thanksgiving travel crowd since the recession hit in 2008.

The good news is that fewer hazards should stand in our way this Thanksgiving than in previous years. However, the bad news may be that traveling this Thanksgiving may cost some of us more than it has previously.

Gas prices are holding steady throughout the Tri-State and most of the Midwest. However, what we pay at the pump this holiday is about 20 percent higher than we paid last year.

At the same time, the cost of traveling by air has gone up since last year. Airlines have cut back on the number of flights to save money, while ticket prices have increased. That means most air travelers this Thanksgiving will find more crowded flights and less room on other planes if they miss their flights.

Travelers we spoke with at the Richwood Rest Stop along Interstates 71-75 in Northern Kentucky on Wednesday said they found travel as good or better than it has been in previous holidays. Several mentioned accidents or slow downs in Cincinnati for adding time to their trips, which ranged from a few hours to 10 or more hours.

Law enforcement agencies throughout the Tri-State will be out in force this Thanksgiving, looking to reduce accidents. They will be watching motorists' speeds, whether they are wearing seat belts and, as always, looking to make sure people don't drink and drive.

Some Ohio surveys have indicated that the heaviest traffic during the holiday comes on Thanksgiving Day itself and then on the following Sunday as families rush back home before returning to work and school on Monday.

AAA experts said plan your trip, if you can, and avoid any lingering construction sites that might slow down traffic. Give yourself and your family plenty of time to get to your final destination and consider staying overnight after Thanksgiving, if you feel you have had too much to drink or eat.