Thanksgiving travel expected to be heaviest since 2007

On Wednesday, Thompson, 23, missed her Amtrak train from Chicago to Galesburg, Ill., where she had planned to catch a ride with a family member the rest of the way to Edinburgh, Ind.

Americans took to the roads, air and railways Wednesday for what is expected to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in almost a decade.

Almost 49 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more between Wednesday and Sunday, the most since 2007, because of lower gas prices and an improving economy, according to AAA.

There was light rain in Chicago, a major airline hub, but delays were only averaging 15 minutes, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.