With a cautious eye on economic recovery, more Americans will be traveling this Thanksgiving to visit family, and a growing number of them will be driving to their destination.

AAA projects 38.4 million Americans will travel a distance of 50 miles or more away from home throughout Thanksgiving weekend, a 1.4 percent increase over last year when 37.8 million traveled for the holiday. In Georgia, 1.2 million will be going somewhere; 982,000 of them will drive while 77,000 will fly to their destination, 3 percent higher than in 2008.

Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president of AAA Auto Club South, said they take the projected increase as a sign that economic recovery may finally be taking root.

“We believe many Americans certainly share the same hope,” Bakewell said.

Overall, the numbers show an even greater number of people who plan on driving – 86 percent of all travelers – which AAA says reflects a growing public dissatisfaction with air travel. This holiday, higher costs for airfare, frequent delays and increased fees have a record number of Americans opting for other means of travel.

Only 6 percent of travelers said they will travel by air, a 10-year trend in which air travel accounts for a declining percentage of total Thanksgiving travel. Since 2000, the number of air travelers during Thanksgiving weekend has dropped by 62 percent.

With so many motorists expected on the roadways, Bakewell recommends that everyone avoid distractions such as cellphones and texting as well as “driver fatigue.”

He suggested that motorists do not attempt a long drive home at night, especially if there’s any drowsiness after enjoying a hearty Thanksgiving dinner.

“It’s much better to stay put rather than place yourself and others at risk,” Bakewell added. “A fresh start in the morning after you’ve rested makes a world of difference.”

AAA’s holiday travel projections are based on a national survey of 1,350 U.S. adults conducted by IHS Global Insight and D.K. Shifflet Associates. The complete Thanksgiving holiday forecast is available at www.AAA.com/news.