SALISBURY, Md. -- As the holiday season kicks into high gear, Americans across the nation are gearing up for a massive wave of travel. Starting from December 23rd through January 1st, a ten-day window, AAA predicts a staggering 115 million Americans will make their way to various holiday destinations.
Out of the projected 115 million travelers, a substantial 7.5 million are anticipated to take to the skies. Terry Loughlin, a traveler at Salisbury Airport en route from Salisbury to Charlotte, shared his perspective on the potential chaos.
Loughlin expressed hopes of avoiding delays and the expected busy travel weekend by flying out a day in advance.
"There's a lot of stories on the air about the delays potentially and busy travel weekend, so sitting here at Salisbury Airport, it doesn't look so bad yet, so we got our fingers crossed," said Loughlin.
Meanwhile, the majority of travelers in Salisbury will be among the 104 million hitting the roads.
Marilyn Searcey plans to travel on Christmas night to pick up family and is optimistic about the road conditions, hoping they look as clear as they did on Friday.
"We're just traveling across the bridge on Christmas day to pick up our daughter and son-in-law who are flying in from Indiana," said Searcey.
Taryn Walterhoefer, who will also be traveling on Christmas day, remains undeterred by the prospect of traffic.
"No, not at all. I travel a lot, and I drive, so it's part of the journey," said Walterhoefer.
However, not everyone is hitting the road or taking to the skies during this busy period. Ryder Ridout plans to stay put, opting for a more relaxed holiday experience.
"I'm gonna hang out around here, get a little hunting in, watch everybody else get stuck in traffic," said Ridout.
While travel plans may differ, the destination remains the same for all – a happy and festive holiday season.