NATCHEZ &8212; Americans tend to hit the road for the holidays, but in the Miss-Lou, folks are homebodies.

Holiday travel plans are short at best for some area residents who will hit the road this weekend, and things like airport security and gas prices are factors to consider, they said.

&8220;I wish (gas prices) would go back down to where they were,&8221; Natchez resident Terri Edwards said. &8220;It would help. I have a sister in Baton Rouge that I might go see after Christmas.&8221;

Linda Whitaker and family, Woodville residents, don&8217;t have far to go on Christmas &8212; about 45 miles away &8212; but Whitaker is still keeping her eye on prices.

&8220;I was pretty upset when they first started going up,&8221; she said. &8220;Now I&8217;m really happy to see $2.20. I kept saying I was going to have to stop some travel.&8221;

The Whitakers will join extended family for the traditional dinner and presents, something they always do.

That time with family is the most important and having family in town is a good thing, they said.

&8220;This is where most of our family is,&8221; Dashun Corey said. &8220;I like to spend that time with family.&8221;

Quinn Eidt said her family went to New Jersey for the holidays once, a two-day trip, but she&8217;s happy to stay in Natchez this year.

&8220;I like it like that,&8221; she said. &8220;We have a tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve and the rest in the morning.&8221;

Gift-opening traditions with small children are a big factor for families deciding whether to travel or not, several moms said.

&8220;I&8217;d rather not travel on Christmas,&8221; Vidalia resident Michelle White said. &8220;My girls, 8 and 4 this year, want to stay home to open presents and play with them.&8221;

Jonathan Lamptey got his holiday traveling out of the way early, returning from a trip to New York two days ago.

&8220;(The airport) wasn&8217;t really crowded, but security is quite heavy,&8221; he said. &8220;Taking off your shoes and jacket, that&8217;s kind of inconvenient.&8221;

For the Christmas and New Year&8217;s holidays the percentage of Americans traveling more than 50 miles away increased by 23 percent compared to the rest of the year, according to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation.

Thanksgiving Day is the busiest long-distance travel day of the year.