Thursday is projected to be one of the busiest days on Florida roads leading up to the Christmas-to-New Year's season.
AAA says the heaviest congestion is expected in the late afternoon as holiday travelers mix with rush-hour commuters. So, the best time to start a road trip is in the morning or late at night.
AAA forecasts a record 107-million Americans will take to planes, trains, automobiles and other modes of transportation during the year-end holiday period, including 5.5 million in Florida.
That (107-million) would be 3.1 percent more travelers than in 2016. AAA experts say the main reason for the surge is that Americans are doing better financially.
If the trend continues, the 2017 year-end travel season will mark the ninth consecutive year travel numbers have increased. Since 2005, year-end holiday travel volume has grown by 21.6 million people, an increase of more than 25 percent, a AAA report states.