I guess the other thing to mention here, for those that never attended a CI (but applicable to this year's BRII event too). Is that this thing gets started on a Wednesday.
For those able to take time off during the week, it's quite possible to come for a day or two and still be home for the holiday weekend. Many people do exactly that. Wed-Fri have traditionally been the best attended days.
Bowling Green is a 9 hour drive for me, and there was one year I drove to Bowling Green on a Thurs, said my hellos and partied Thurs night, then drove back home Fri.