It's Memorial Day weekend, so don't be surprised to see highways clogged with cars leaving, coming or passing through.

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AAA Mid-Atlantic says more motorists are expected to hit the road this weekend than any other time since the beginning of the recession. The organization says it's a sign things are getting better.

"We got better jobs, so we've got a little bit more money," traveler Tyler Schulze says.

Schulze is one of those drivers who will be hitting the road for the extended holiday. In years past, he and his friends stuck closer to home, because "things have been tight." This year, they're heading to Ocean City.

AAA says although gas prices are still high, they've been falling fast, and that's helping.

"In recent memory that's only happened twice, where gas prices have fallen before Memorial Day, they normally peak after Memorial Day," AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman John Townsend said.

If you are going somewhere, the two absolute worst times to leave are Thursday and Friday at evening rush hour.

"If you're out there at 6 p.m. on Friday night, that's a doomsday scenario," Townsend said.

Many are heeding that word. Streams of travelers heading out of town could be spotted all along I-95 in Northern Virginia on Thursday morning.

"I told my wife I wanted to leave at 3 a.m. to try and beat some of the traffic, but we left around 5 a.m.," traveler Carl Bailey said.

Regardless of how people are traveling this weekend - long lines are expected at airports as well - travelers like Brittani Sprankle say they're just pleased to be able to get out of town.

"I mostly just want the beach," she said.