Holiday highway traffic could hit a record high this year

CINCINNATI - Highways could be more crowded than ever this holiday season.

AAA predicts more than 93 million Americans will be traveling this holiday season. That's 1.6 percent more than last year.

It says the highways will be more crowded, largely because finding cheap airline seats is tougher this year.

To put it in perspective: one in four Americans are driving long distances between Dec. 22 and Jan. 1 -- that's a new record. AAA says expect plenty of traffic jams, crowded highway rest stops and overflowing toll plazas.

The travel company says gas prices will be between $3.20 and $3.40 a gallon, on average, by New Year's Day. AAA says gas prices have dropped since September, but remain at record highs for this time of year.