Thanksgiving travelers should hit the road as soon as possible

WTNH -- Let the mass migration begin.

By plane, train and automobile, millions of Americans are now en-route to the holiday destinations.
If you're still packing up the car, AAA recommends you hit the road as soon as possible. There is a price you'll pay if you decide to wait.

"A lot of trucks, but the roads are pretty good," said Mary O'Neill, from Randolph Vermont.  "I left early, I left around 4:30, and that's typically the best time to leave because I can get home maybe by noon."

Whether driving or flying, one strategy stands out among the rest.

Richard Garrett of Hatfield, Massachusetts, who was flying to his destination, said at the airport, "I plan early, thinking there's going to be a huge crowd, and I'm kind of surprised there's not.  Every year I do the same thing. I always come early, and I always sit around for a couple hours."

For the fourth straight year, the projected number of travelers is up to almost 44 million Americans traveling 50 miles or farther.

AAA Spokeswoman Fran Mayko said "it's just a smidge up, not as much as in previous years."

Deciding where to fill up the tank depends where you're going. 

If you're going to New York you might want to top it off before you get over the border, as right now Empire Staters, Alaskans and Hawaiians are the only ones paying more average per gallon than here in Connecticut.

Connecticut's average price for a gallon of gas on Wednesday was $3.83. In New York, the average was $3.92.

When asked if she was impressed with the gas prices here in Connecticut, O"Neill said  "I don't think so!"

Jim Edwards, from Ocean City, New Jersey, traveling to Walpole, Massachusetts, said "no way will I ever stop for gas in Connecticut."

But it doesn't stop them from hitting the road.

"Despite the fact that gas prices are higher than last year, it's still the cheapest way to go if you have a family," said Mayko.

So, yes, the prices change year-to-year, but the basics don't.

Mayko said "leave early, slow down, and buckle up."