Millions of New Yorkers are expected to travel this week for Thanksgiving.

"I make sure I'm not in the thick of it or else it can be very painful," says Melissa Mage, a traveler from Chicago.

AAA predicts that over 80 million people will travel 50 miles or more this week for Thanksgiving, and more than 5 million New Yorkers will drive or fly to their holiday destination.

AAA is encouraging drivers to leave early in the morning this week. It is expecting traffic to be worse in the Hudson Valley in the afternoons.

“You can expect a lot of traffic, particularly Tuesday and Wednesday, starting at about noon or 1 p.m. going as late as 5, 6 or 7 p.m..” says Robert Sinclair, a spokesperson for AAA.

AAA thinks the busiest days to travel this week will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Dec. 2.

"New York is in the top five of destinations for the holiday so you'll have a lot of people traveling to our area so it makes for a big mix, a lot of traffic," says Sinclair.

At the Westchester County Airport, many got a head start.

"I wasn't expecting this big of a line but it's holidays and it's Thanksgiving," says Miles Sands, a Scarsdale resident.

The airport was filled with travelers going all over, including Florida, South Carolina, Chicago and Michigan.

Some were relieved it wasn't too crazy at the airport on Monday.

"It was really easy, in and out, no delays, weather's cooperating so I think it's a good day to be traveling," says Mage.