Over the River and Through the Roof . . .

* Avoid the baggage carousel. Lower the risk of lost or delayed luggage by packing only a carry-on bag and shipping your gifts and extra luggage ahead of time. Luggage Free (800-361-6871, http://www.luggagefree.com), for example, will pick up, prep and send your bags to your destination. Rates start at $40, plus $1.50 per pound of luggage, with a minimum charge of $110 for a domestic trip.

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Traveling by Car or Train

* Stay out of traffic. Last year, 81 percent of Americans drove to their holiday destination, AAA reports. Dodge traffic by staying off the roads the night before and day of Thanksgiving, the Sunday after the holiday, during regular rush hour on the Friday before Christmas and on Dec. 30. Also, plan your drive during off-peak times, such as at 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.

For updates on accidents and road closures, call Traffic.com's free automated line at 866-698-7232. If you do get waylaid by a traffic jam, plan an alternate route that avoids major thoroughfares; download directions from such Web sites as Google Maps ( http://www.maps.google.com), Mapquest ( http://www.mapquest.com) or Rand McNally ( http://www.randmcnally.com).

Finally, skip tollbooth traffic with a prepaid Smart Tag/E-ZPass ( http://www.ezpass.com). Participating states include Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia.

* Create a road-trip budget. To calculate the cost of your trip, visit AAA's http://fuelcostcalculator.com, which provides a gas cost estimate based on regional prices and the make and model of your car. To find the cheapest stations along your route, visit GasBuddy.com ( http://www.gasbuddy.com).

* Ride the rails. If traveling in the Northeast, consider taking the train. Advantages include a less restrictive pre-departure arrival time (45 minutes recommended for holidays), carry-on allowances of two 50-pound bags, en-route mobility, a dining car and no road rage.

According to Amtrak manager Tracy Connell, the busiest days are the Tuesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Travel is more spread out around Christmas and New Year's, and you can save money by traveling during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening). Generally, Connell says train stations also are less busy on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day than on the preceding three or four days.

Reservations are required for all trips, and although Amtrak adds trains during the holidays, prime times can sell out. Info: 800-872-7245, http://www.amtrak.com.

If All Else Fails . . .

* Go abroad. European destinations are cheaper and less crowded during winter than high-season summer, plus some travel outfitters offer Turkey Day packages. For example, Gate1 Travel (800-682-3333, http://www.gate1travel.com) has a six-day Thanksgiving in Paris package, including air from D.C. and hotel, that starts at $775 per person double. Depart Nov. 20 or 21. "Get out of the country over Thanksgiving," says Melnick. "It's just another Thursday for the rest of the world."

Conversely, prices do rise over Christmas and New Year's, so consider flying back after Thanksgiving, or simply staying until 2008.

-- Kristin Harrison