Across the nation, it's time to drive to grandma and grandpa's house, and Butler County residents are no exception.

Those traveling during the holidays will be looking at one of the busiest holiday seasons yet, according to Jamie Arehart, communications coordinator for District 10 of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Arehart said it is estimated that 115.6 million people will travel around the nation from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1.

“That's 4 percent more than last year,” Arehart said.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission also released a statement Thursday with its own estimates.

The commission forecasts more than 6.6 million motorists will be traveling the Turnpike this holiday season through Jan. 1.

The commission expects the busiest days to be Friday, Monday and Dec. 27, with estimates of 600,000 vehicles each day.

Other days during the busy time span have estimates around 500,000 vehicles each day.

In a news release, Turnpike CEO Mark Compton said there will be an increased state police presence, and other measures will be taken to make the road safer.

“We have added resources to address any traffic and safety concerns due to the increased holiday traffic,” Compton said. “We are prepared, and our goal is to provide our customers the best travel experience possible.”

Arehart said Pennsylvanians should engage in safe driving practices.“Remember what you're traveling for, which is to be with friends and family,” Arehart said. “That's what we're all trying to do.”In addition to leaving earlier for a trip, Arehart said there are two other issues she emphasizes: responding to aggressive driving and the use of headlights.Don't try to compete with aggressive drivers, she said.“If you see someone driving aggressively, stay back from them,” Arehart said. “Don't drive aggressively yourself.”Arehart said the second issue has recently come to her attention due to snow squalls.She said many people have commented on Facebook about drivers without their lights on.“Make sure you clear off your cars, and if you have your wipers on at all, turn on your headlights,” Arehart said. “We should all just put them on, so we can all see each other.”

Also affecting travel will be prices at the pumps.According to data compiled by AAA, Pennsylvania's gas prices averaged at $2.76 per gallon as of Thursday.The county was listed on the high end of the state estimate, with an average of $2.80 per gallon.The same data showed the national average at $2.55 per gallon.According to a news release by AAA, forecasts for the nation's gas prices are lower through the winter, with the national average expected to be between $2.40 and $2.45, which will be 15 to 20 cents more than last December.“Depending on where you live in the country, you will see gas prices drop anywhere between a nickel and a quarter this month. While that will offer savings to motorists, it is not as much as they saw last December,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokeswoman.For the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, the association predicts gas prices to decrease into the new year, but at a slow pace, most likely no more than a dime.

For those coming to Butler County to visit for the holidays, there is plenty to see and do, according to Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism Bureau.“People flock to Butler County because their relatives are here,” Cohen said. “Many people will come and visit us during the holidays.”Cohen said the county also prides itself on its historical value, and the holidays are a perfect time to escape the cold, and warm up the body and brain simultaneously.Sights include the Maridon Museum, with its focus on Asian art and culture coupled with German Meissen porcelain, and many historical attractions in the city of Butler, Harmony, Saxonburg and Slippery Rock.“All the museums are beautiful at this time of the year,” Cohen said.He said there are also a number of attractions that county residents might want to show their visiting family members and friends, especially light shows.Shadrack's Christmas Wonderland is among the biggest, and it runs through Jan. 5 at the Big Butler Fairgrounds.Cohen said hotels often see an uptick in business during this time of year, and malls and shopping centers draw larger crowds.He said visitors should also check out a natural attraction that lies in the northern part of the county and looks beautiful with a fresh blanket of snow: Moraine State Park begins celebrating a half-century on Jan. 1.“New Year's Day is the first hike of the 50th anniversary of Moraine State Park,” Cohen said. “It's open to the public and we'd love for everybody to come out.”