Holiday Travelers Take Off Early

By: Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Dec 20, 2007 at 10:33 PM CST

Story Updated: Dec 20, 2007 at 10:33 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Five days before the big day, holiday travelers hustle through Eastern Iowa.

“We’re coming from Algona, Iowa, heading to the suburbs of Chicago," says Mary Schaaf, a holiday traveler.

“We're coming from the Twin Cities going down to Louisiana,” says David Storevik, another holiday traveler.

Their destinations are diverse, but the motivation behind this type of movement is similar.

“We want to get an early start,” says Storevik.

An early start on festivities with family and friends, with loved ones living miles away.

“The more time we have out there the better because it is so far," says Schaaf.

AAA says more than 65 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles this holiday season. That’s just a small jump from last year. About 53 million people will drive. Miles might not be the biggest hurdle for most. Traffic tie-ups often take the title of number one annoyance.

“We're probably missing some of it, that's a good thing,” says Schaaf.

And maybe a bad thing for those still waiting to hit the road. But not everyone enjoys the luxury of leaving early. Some have to stick it out till the last minute.

“My husband plays Santa at the Coralrige Mall so we go after he gets done Christmas Eve. His mom's in Oskaloosa,” says Pat Weatherwax, a holiday traveler.

Whenever travelers take off, they should probably pack extra holiday spirit. The road to grandmother's house has a reputation for detours.

The slight increase in holiday travelers comes even with the big increase in gas prices. The national average for gas right now is about three dollars a gallon. That’s 70 cents more than it was this time last year.

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