Even as gas prices plummet, fewer travelers are taking to the road and flying the skies this holiday. Still, AAA estimates 41-million Americans will travel at least 50 miles this thanksgiving. That's 600-thousand fewer than last year.

Over the river and through the woods, it's off to grandmother's house we go. For those hitting the highways in Illinois, a second line to that saying would be "passing police so go slow".

"When they see us every ten miles, they are going to drop the speed limit down and they are going to see us. Hopefully, we don't write any speeding citations this weekend. We just want the roadways to be safe," Sgt. Tony Halsey with the Illinois State Police says.

One less pain for travelers is here at the pump where prices have plunged. It's a dollar less per gallon this Thanksgiving over last. Lee Triplett topped out his 21-gallon tank at $35.

"It's a lot better than 3 dollars a gallon. Not too bad right now," Triplett says.

Three-dollar gas last thanksgiving shot up to about 4 dollars for all the top travel holidays in the summer. The recent plunge at the pump is helping to take off the pressure for people like Triplett who's picking up his mom in Peoria to have her in St. Louis for Thanksgiving.

"If it was $4 a gallon, I would probably still do it because it is my mom and pick her up. But, I know that would put a lot of strain on people traveling I know that," Triplett says.

Air travel also is taking a plunge with 7% less flyers this Thanksgiving over last. Still, 1400 air travelers took off and landed at Peoria's airport Wednesday.

"It has lightened up a little bit with the economy, but our passenger numbers are still pretty good comparatively speaking with other airports," John Backer from the Peoria International Airport says.

And with airlines now charging a long list of fees, flyers are finding anyway they can to keep the price from going sky high.

"We decided not to bring any extra luggage so we're traveling extra light as we'll carry everything on board. So, we won't have to pay for that," Air Traveler Frank Barclay from Manito says.

Thanksgiving travelers are taking all steps that allow them to fill-up on more food than fees or gasoline.

After 8 o'clock Wednesday night, police will step up patrols on streets doing roadside safety checks as this is one of the biggest bar nights of the year.