If you're heading out this holiday weekend, you'll have some company. AAA Mid-Atlantic projects 1.9-million people will be traveling 50 miles or more from their homes during the Christmas and New Year's period. That's 1.2% more than in 2011.

"As is typical with most of the holidays, the vast majority--over 90%, more than 1.7-million Marylanders--will be driving to their destinations," says Ragina Averella, Public and Government Affairs Manager with AAA Mid-Atlantic.

This decision to drive comes despite the fact that the price of gasoline is higher this year compared to 2011. AAA says the cost of filling up in Maryland averages about $3.27 per gallon, which is six-cents higher than last year. But the cost of gasoline has dropped by 50-cents per gallon since September, according to AAA.

The auto club also says 1.7-million Maryland will be traveling by air during the holiday period. That a 4.1% increase compared to last year. The remainder, about 77,600, will be going by bus or rail, or taking a cruise, in order to get to their destinations.

During this time of the year, the Christmas and New Year's travel period is from Saturday, December 22nd, 2012 to Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013.

If you're planning to travel by air or car, AAA says be prepared. "If you're traveling by air, you want to give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport. Make sure you're following the rules of {The Department of} Homeland Security and not taking too many fluids on board the plane," says Averella.

And if you're going by car, "make sure that you're seatbelted," she says. "Make sure, if you're traveling with children, that your kids have things to do in the backseat, particularly for long journeys to keep them occupied and busy so they're not distracting mom and dad, or whoever is driving."