SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - AAA expects this Thanksgiving holiday to be record-breaking, estimating over 80 million Americans will travel over the holiday, which is 2 million more than last year. It is projected that 71.7 million people will be traveling on the roads, 1.3 million more than last year. About 5.84 million people are estimated to be traveling domestically through the air even though the price is higher for domestic travel this year compared to last. Toys for Tots campaign at 22News begins “Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and AAA continues to see demand soar post-pandemic as Americans reconnect with family and friends and seek memorable trips to new destinations,” said Mark Schieldrop, Senior Spokesperson, AAA Northeast. Nearly 2.3 million people will be traveling by bus, train, or cruise which has increased by about 9 percent compared to last year. They say these travelers are mainly headed to warmer climates including many cities in Florida for theme parks, cruise ports, and beaches but also New York, California, Hawaii, and Las Vegas. Internationally, the top destinations are Europe and the Caribbean. Thanksgiving Travel Poll Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car This year, AAA is anticipating people leaving earlier than in years past to beat the traffic. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, it is recommended to leave before 10 a.m. estimating the busiest time to travel will be from 1 p.m. to around 5 to 7 p.m. For traveling home, Friday it is recommended to leave after 1 p.m. but on Saturday and Sunday, leave in the morning, before 1 p.m. If you have already or are planning on renting a car, Hertz says the busiest car pick-up day is expected to be the Wednesday before and the busiest return days are the Monday and Tuesday after the holiday.  “With a record number of travelers on the road over Thanksgiving, we urge drivers to plan ahead to make their trips smooth and safe,” Schieldrop said. “For many, the night before Thanksgiving kicks off a season of holiday celebrations, and as drivers plan their road trips and outings, a safe and sober ride should be at the top of the list.” Local News Headlines Tracking wet and possibly wintry weather in Massachusetts this week UMass football Head Coach Don Brown to be replaced Chicopee Fire Dept. honored for water rescue Springfield Police Officer John Toledo suspended WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.