Record Number Holiday Travelers Expected For Thanksgiving

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Thanks to the improving economy, Maryland is expecting a three percent surge travelers compared to last year -- that means it's going to take longer to reach your destination starting today and into Sunday.

"It's definitely more busy than when I've taken the train before," said one traveler.

A record number of people will be traveling this Thanksgiving.

"You have to realize everyone is doing it, so you just go with the flow and you can't get flustered by the pace of it all," said another holiday traveler.

Baltimore Penn Station providing additional trains to accommodate the surge in passengers.

"We have employees working across our national network trying to get everything ready to go."

Whether you are boarding a train, heading up in the air, or taking a road most traveled,

"Just take your time," said another traveler.

More than nine percent of travelers will be driving. So it's recommended to plan ahead: Have alternate routes in mind to avoid gridlock.

Maryland will see an extra 31,000 travelers, compared to last year.

"We've seen rising wages. Overall consumer confidence is increasing, so those are good things. Also,  we're seeing pretty low gas prices," said Regina Averella, AAA Mid-Atlantic.

A promising holiday forecast, that means more congestion and extra travel time.

"Try and travel very early in the morning tomorrow. Hopefully, everybody will have already gone tonight," said one holiday motorist.

So enjoy the journey wherever it may take you this holiday, and be sure to pack some extra patience.

Now, right now is the peak time for traveling. It's recommended to wait until it gets a little later, maybe after 9:00. The same goes for Sunday. Either leave really early in the morning or late at night to avoid that heavy traffic.