Colorado airports, highways project very heavy Thanksgiving traffic

Both the skies and the roads are expected to see more traffic this Thanksgiving week than in recent years.

At the Colorado Springs Airport Sunday, it’s getaway day for Rick and Kimi Sherry.

“Today just to beat the rush,” Rick said.

The Sherrys are not alone. A handful of people are hopping a flight now to avoid getting on a plane Wednesday, the busiest travel day of the year.

Denver International Airport expects 1 million passengers to come through over the next week.

“We’ve done that before,” traveler Marilyn LaRue said. LaRue and her husband are leaving to visit family in Baltimore. “We’ve learned our lesson. It’s better to plan ahead and allow a little more time.”

According to GasBuddy.com, a regular unleaded gallon in Colorado is 29 cents cheaper than a year ago. Nationally, gas prices are down 40 cents compared to last Thanksgiving.

Raymond Lange will head up to Denver Wednesday night to spend Thanksgiving with his grandchildren. Lange wants to stay far away from an airport this holiday.

“Within 100 miles is pretty easy, Lange said. “But, if you’re going to the airport, I feel sorry for you. Colorado Springs or Denver. Some places you go, you’re going to get stranded. Especially if you go to Buffalo. If you go to Buffalo you better take your snow shovel.”

Lange may not need to pack his shovel, but he will have lots of company on the road up north.

AAA estimates more than 46 million Americans will hit the road this Thanksgiving week, the highest number of drivers since 2007.