EDGEWATER, Md. - The early 4th of July exodus has begun as 351,000 beach-bound vehicles are expected to cross the Bay Bridge between now and Sunday.

Dustin Ellington, a friend and his boat got on the road earlier than usual but apparently not early enough. "Well I came home from work today and it was packed with traffic and that was at 1 o'clock so it seems everyone is getting off a lot earlier from work," he said.

From the looks of traffic on Route 50, more and more travelers are heading out on Thursday rather than Friday. For Salisbury resident Ryan Weaver, the 4th of July means being bombarded with tourists.

"[It's] pretty ridiculous just because there [are] cars everywhere. But it's alright. Tourism -- it fuels the economy a little bit," he said.

Perhaps due to a sluggish economy, local beaches were busier than other years this past Memorial Day weekend.

Instead of packing for a longer, more expensive trip this holiday weekend, Danyel Smith has decided to stay relatively close to home.

"Go to the zoo, take the kids out -- more or less like local trips not anything too far away," she said. "Gas prices are still up."

Those who plan on being on the road this July 4th weekend should expect to see police who will be out in force cracking down on aggressive and impaired drivers along with seat belt violators.

It seems the slumping economy and job losses are keeping more people closer to home this year, as AAA predicts only about one million Virginia residents will be traveling long distance.

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