Clutching a fresh cup of coffee, Ruth Randall stretched her back and yawned.
More than 150 miles into her 300-mile Thanksgiving Eve trek to Geneva, N.Y., the 71-year-old from Wilmington, Del., and her dog, Maggie, both needed a break.
"My back hurts and my butt is numb," she said, while grabbing a piece of crumb cake at a rest area in Fleetville off Interstate 81. "Normally, I can't drive for more than 45 minutes straight. But I am excited to see my grandkids."
According to AAA, 45 percent of Thanksgiving day travelers left for their destination Wednesday, clogging interstates nationwide and causing officials to emphasize the importance of alert and cautious driving.
"A lot can happen if people aren't abiding by the highway and traffic rules," said state Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Taluto, who announced PennDOT has organized safety breaks at rest areas on Interstates 80, 81 and 84, and at the Matamoras and Great Bend Welcome Centers. "The main goal is for everyone to reach their destination safely."
Despite record-high gas prices for this time of year, an estimated 48,120 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton metro area residents will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving weekend - a 0.3 percent increase from last year, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Jenny Robinson. Of those travelers, 43,075, or 84 percent will drive to their destination, while 3,881 residents will travel by plane - a 2 percent decrease from last year.
The increase in road traffic comes despite record-high gasoline prices.
As of Wednesday, metro area regular gas prices averaged about $3.59 per gallon, 19 cents higher than the area's average from one year ago of $3.39, which previously stood as the area's highest gas price for this five-day travel period, Ms. Robinson said.
"Even though gas prices are higher, it's still more effective to travel by car than plane," said Terri Ooms, executive director of the Wilkes-Barre-based Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport Director Barry Centini said he hasn't noticed a decrease in air travel this Thanksgiving - a sentiment echoed by U.S. Airways spokesman Todd Lehmacher.
"The flight loads are pretty healthy," Mr. Lehmacher said.
As for the weather, AccuWeather senior meteorologist John Gresiak said today and Friday will be sunny, with temperatures ranging in the mid-50s. Temperatures will drop this weekend, he said, and there is a chance of snow showers.
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