If you plan on driving on Oregon roads for the Thanksgiving holiday, you're not alone.
The Oregon Department of Transportation estimates that the number of travelers on highways this holiday week could be around 600,000 — a record for the state.
Of those travelers, more than 80 percent are expected to drive for the holiday.
ODOT spokeswoman Shelley Snow said she sees at least one major reason for the uptick in travel this year.
"The economy is up," Snow said. "People have more money to spend and want to do that, especially after four or five years of a recession. ... And one of the results of that is absolutely more traffic on the roads."
Travel monitors placed by ODOT in 2015 recorded real-time travel time averages. They found the busiest travel days are the Wednesday and Friday immediately before and after Thanksgiving.
Snow said her advice to travelers would be to have patience if you encounter traffic delays or unfavorable weather conditions.
The National Weather Service in Portland said its forecasts are showing persistent snow in the Cascades mountain passes throughout the week. They've urged travelers to drive with chains and extra emergency supplies.
Copyright 2016 Oregon Public Broadcasting