As we head into Thanksgiving on the heels of the longest government shutdown in history, AAA estimates that 73 million people in the U.S. will be hitting the road to travel for the holiday. That might seem like a recipe for traffic disasters, but there are ways to plan a smooth trip.
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“Travelers are showing flexibility and resilience and rely mostly on driving,” Adrienne Woodland of AAA Michigan told Audacy.
To forecast the best and worst Thanksgiving travel times this year, AAA used data from transportation data insight provider INRIX. It said the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving next week are expected to be the most congested travel periods. Those traveling back home can expect heavy traffic for most of Sunday.
Even those who have to travel on those peak congestion days can schedule their trips to avoid the most traffic. Woodland explained that the busiest times on Tuesday are expected to be between noon and 9 p.m., so leaving in the morning or late evening might help prevent a slow-moving trip. On Wednesday, traffic is expected to be heaviest between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
AAA car rental partner Hertz said Wednesday is expected to be the busiest pick-up day for those renting cars. Orlando, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Los Angeles, Calif. and Newark, N.J. are expected to be the busiest rental car markets, with prices estimated to be 15% cheaper than last year. Additionally, AAA said travelers should keep in mind construction, crashes, or severe weather that could impact travel times.
Here’s a list of the best and worst travel times throughout Thanksgiving week:
Tuesday, Nov. 25
BEST: Noon – 9 pm.
WORST: Before noon
Wednesday, Nov. 26
BEST: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
WORST: Before 11 a.m.
Thursday, Nov. 27
Minimal traffic impact expected
Friday, Nov. 28
BEST: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
WORST: Before 11 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29
BEST: 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
WORST: Before 10 a.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30
BEST: 11 a.m. – 8 a.m.
WORST: Before 11 a.m.
Monday, Dec. 1
BEST: Noon – 8 p.m.
WORST: After 8 p.m.
Out of the total 81.8 million people AAA expects to travel at least 50 miles from home for the Thanksgiving holiday during this timeframe – 1.6 million more than last year, a new record – 90% are expected to drive. Around 6 million travelers in the U.S. are expected to travel domestically by air, 2% more than last year. Thanksgiving is generally the busiest travel holiday of the year in the U.S.
“Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends.”
Coming off travel delays and other issues, such as air traffic controllers working without paychecks, related to the recent government shutdown, AAA said even more people than predicted could travel by road this year instead of by air. Motorists should expect gas prices to be similar to last year, with the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline at approximately $3.06 on Thanksgiving Day. Meanwhile, flights are averaging $700.
“Travel by other modes is expected to increase by 8.5% to nearly 2.5 million people,” said AAA. “Those travelers are taking trips by bus, train, and cruise. Buses and trains could see an uptick in last-minute bookings this year.”
AAA warned motorists on the road during the Thanksgiving holiday surge that it responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls last year. It helped stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks, so checking for those before heading out is a good idea.
“Have a plan in place before Thanksgiving, and use a rideshare, designate a sober driver, or take public transit to ensure everyone’s safety,” if drinking is part of holiday plans, AAA added.
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