Over the river and through the woods will be a bit more congested this year as AAA projects a 0.7 percent increase in travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

In all, AAA projects 43.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home next weekend, compared to the 43.3 million people who traveled last year. This increase marks the fourth consecutive year of growing holiday travelers since 2008 when Thanksgiving travel fell by 25 percent.

Driving the modest gain this year are declining gas prices and an improving level of consumer confidence despite a sluggish economic recovery. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 25.