They're Off! Homebound Rush Begins

Nov. 25, 2007 — -- Thanksgiving may be over, but one of the busiest days of the year is just getting started. Millions of Americans are traveling today in what's predicted to be the end of the largest pilgrimage for the holiday ever.

By car, train and plane, a record 38.7 million U.S. residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday weekend.

According to AAA, 31 million Americans will hit the highways. But despite the crush, experts predict the ride home on Sunday will be smoother than in year's past.

The Higgs family, traveling from New York to Washington, didn't take any chances. They left by car on Saturday to avoid the rush.

And even though gas prices are up 86 cents from last year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Higgses said it wasn't enough to spoil their plans.

"It's the holidays and festive and a Thanksgiving we'll never forget," said Kimberly Higgs. "The price of gas wasn't going to change that for us."

They're not alone. Eighty percent of the country chose to drive, but a record number of people are also flying.

Airline travel is up 4 percent over a year ago, but the skies are proving to be a little friendlier this year.

Travelers throughout the country told ABC News that delays were limited at check-in, security or at the gates, and that planes left on time over the last four days.

"You have to give credit to the airlines, the airports and to the local law officials across the country on our highways that really were well prepared, and that's why things have gone relatively smoothly," said Troy Green, a spokesperson for AAA.

Travelers can also thank good weather, the temporary use of military airspace and lessons learned from past mistakes.

"We have ground delay programs in JFK, Boston and Philadelphia," Gary Edwards, a Delta representative, told ABC News. "I like to say what we do in here is play a four-dimensional chess game of 15,000 moving pieces."