This year’s holiday travel season is expected to be the heaviest in six years.

The AAA Auto Club’s annual forecast shows more than 93 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more. That includes 2.6 million Georgians, up 1.5 percent from last year.

People are also going to spend more on their holiday travel -- $759 this year compared to $718 -- and go a few miles farther than they did last year.

“We’re seeing a little bit more confidence in households this year,” said Jessica Brady, a spokeswoman for The Auto Club Group, AAA’s southeast chapter. “Even though we have been paying more for gas and there has been a concern about the fiscal cliff that’s coming, this is the time of year when we really start to see people getting out there and traveling.”

Brady said gas prices have come down in recent months and will keep falling into the weekend as the holiday travel season officially begins.

“The year-end holiday season remains the least volatile of all travel holidays as Americans will not let economic conditions or high gas prices dictate if they go home for the holidays or kick off the New Year with a vacation,” said Brent Hubele, vice president, AAA Travel, The Auto Club Group.

Most travelers will drive, as is typically the case. But the number of flyers is projected to jump 4.3 percent.

Tags: holiday travel, AAA, holiday traffic, AAA Auto Club South, Jessica Brady