KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Make sure to pack your patience Wednesday evening. Nationally, AAA expects 55 million Americans to travel for Thanksgiving this year. It will be the most travelers since 2005.
More than 49 million Americans are hitting the road to spend the holidays with friends and family. Many are expected to drive 50 miles or more.
According to AAA, Wednesday, Nov. 27 will be the busiest day on the road for Thanksgiving travel. You may not see a lot of traffic on the road that morning, but that evening will be a different story.
Traffic may begin to stall as early as 4 p.m. when travelers mix in with everyday commuters. Experts with AAA predict drivers could see major delays in big metropolitan areas like Atlanta or Nashville.
"Try to leave earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon to avoid those cities,” said Stephanie Milani, spokesperson with AAA. “Otherwise just map out your route and map out where you're going so that you have a plan."
But you do not want problems while driving or waiting in traffic. Before you head out, you may want to double-check your car and make sure it’s working properly.
“AAA expects to rescue more than 368,000 members just this Thanksgiving holiday,” said Milani. “The vast majority of those calls for help will be dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts."
According to Milani, you should check your tires, oil, and your battery.
“You also want to make sure you have a winter weather driving kit," said Milani. “That kit should include gloves, blankets, water, snacks, flares and even kitty litter.”
Also, make sure to have enough gas. Gas prices are a little lower this year, averaging about $2.60 nationwide.
"Gas prices, even though they have been fluctuating the past several weeks, prices are lower this year than they were last year," said Milani.
If you're traveling with kids, AAA also recommends that you bring a few things along to keep the kids busy so you can focus on the road.
"Just go
ahead and pack a box for entertainment, get some extra DVD’s that they can
watch and make sure everyone is properly buckled in,” said Milani.
On Wednesday, drivers will see more State Troopers along I-40. Be sure to watch your speed.
Starting at 10 a.m. Tennessee Highway Patrol is stationing troopers every 20 miles on the interstate. Troopers will be in place until 10 p.m. Then, they will be back out in full force in the same way when people return on Sunday.
RELATED: Tennessee Highway Patrol cracking down on DUIs and distracted driving during holiday season
If you need help on the roads, drivers can call *87 and that will connect you to a THP dispatcher. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.