ST. LOUIS - Roads will be increasingly crowded the next two days as we approach the busiest travel days of the year. AAA says nearly 80 million Americans are expected to travel over 50 miles between Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Monday, Dec. 2.

AAA is expecting to set new records this year with projected travel numbers about two percent higher than last year and about three percent higher than 2019.

“This is really a trend that we’ve been seeing over the last several years. Really since mid-2021, coming out of the height of the pandemic where we see year over year increases in travel and especially around these major holidays where people want to go visit family, friends, and loved ones,” AAA spokesperson Nick Chabarria said.

Of those traveling, over 71 million people will travel by car, so it’s important to be prepared for the extra volume on the roads.

“Whether you’re driving to your destination, maybe going to the airport, or even just running errands around town, there’s going to be a lot of folks out and about this Thanksgiving,” Chabarria said.

Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to set new records, with nearly 6 million people projected to fly domestically this holiday. Those at Lambert say that Wednesday and Sunday will be their busiest days, followed closely by Tuesday and next Monday.

“Last year was a really strong year. We’re still just a little bit ahead of last year as well. But I think this is going to be one of the best year’s we’ve seen. So the last couple of months were sort of equal with 2023 because it was such a gangbuster year,” Director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge added.

Of course, weather can play a big role not only on the roads but also in the sky. Travelers that are heading west could possibly be impacted by some snow, which could result in some delays. Back home, the airport is keeping a close observation on the weather.

“We do watch it on a daily basis. You know, customers should watch it as well, just to be prepared in case the destination they’re traveling to is one that’s having challenges with the weather,” Hamm-Niebruegge said.

Officials at the airport say that you should check their website ahead of time to see what is not allowed on flights. Many people celebrate Christmas early with their out-of-town family, so make sure if you’re traveling with any presents they remain unwrapped.