Getting ready to travel this Thanksgiving? Prepare for significant traffic. AAA’s annual traffic prediction study anticipates that there will be nearly 82 million people traveling at least 50 miles from home — likely leading to delays on the roads.
This year’s domestic travel forecast shows 1.6 million more travelers than last year, setting a new record. About 73 million of those (89.6 percent) will travel by car, 1.3 million more than last year, AAA predicts.
“Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel said in a statement. “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.”
Overall, the best day and times to travel will be Tuesday before noon, Wednesday before 11 a.m., or Thanksgiving Day. The worst travel times will be noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
After Thanksgiving, the best times to travel are Friday or Sunday before 11 a.m., Saturday before 10 a.m., or Monday after 8 p.m. The worst times are Friday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Monday from noon to 8 p.m.
In the DC Metro area, AAA says that the peak travel time will be on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. with a 166 percent increase in travel time.
To hopefully lessen the traffic, the Capital Beltway’s new express lanes near the Dulles Corridor Interchange are now open.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
