More Southern Californians are expected to travel over the next two weeks than last year at this time. The Auto Club says more people will be on the highway than in the air.
The Auto Club says the number of travelers will still be 27 percent fewer than the last December holiday period before the recession started in 2007.
The Auto Club's Marie Montgomery says about seven million Southern Californians will take overnight trips of 50 miles or more over the upcoming holidays -- a slight increase over last year.
She says nearly 90 percent of travelers will be on the highways and about 6 percent will fly.
Montgomery says an Auto Club survey shows the lagging economy has moved travelers to save money this year.
"Forty percent said that they were going to stay with friends or family instead of in a hotel," says Montgomery. "And 30 percent said that they were going to drive instead of fly."
Montgomery says San Diego is among the top five destinations for Southern California travelers. Las Vegas is number one. She also said the top cruise destination is Mexico, while the top air destination is Hawaii.