NEED TO KNOW
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A record 81.8M Americans are traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, with car congestion peaking on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to AAA
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Flights will see 6 million passengers, steady fares and busiest returns on Sunday and Monday
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Florida, the Caribbean and Europe are the top travel destinations
Thanksgiving travel is shaping up to be busier than ever, but travelers can make smart choices to navigate the guaranteed packed highways and crowded airports.
According to a forecast from AAA, a record 81.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, making this year the most-traveled Thanksgiving holiday season on record. The largest group of Americans (about 73 million) will be traveling by car, and that means traffic is going to be intense in very predictable waves.
“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday of them all when it comes to travel,” said AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz in a statement to PEOPLE. “Just people gathering with family and friends, and because of that, they’re willing to brave airport crowds and endure traffic jams.”
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Stock, Traffic on a highway seen from above
According to AAA’s analysis, the worst traffic falls on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving between noon and 9 p.m., while Wednesday, often the season’s most hectic travel day, will be most congested from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Leaving earlier in the day on either date, before 12 p.m. Tuesday or 11 a.m. Wednesday can help travelers dodge the heaviest backups. The return trip will be no easier, with Sunday, Nov. 30, expected to bring long delays from late morning through evening, and lighter congestion appearing only after 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1.
“We encourage drivers to get a good night’s rest, pack an emergency kit, check your tire pressure and battery, and fill up your tank before you hit the road,” added Diaz. “Also, never drive impaired or distracted, and always slow down and move over when you see other vehicles on the side of the road.”
Those opting to fly this holiday won’t see much relief from crowds either, with about 6 million travelers expected to take to the skies, a slight uptick from last year by 2%. Airfare is holding steady, averaging around $700 for a domestic round-trip ticket.
Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Holiday traffic
Travelers looking for the best value may find that flying on Thanksgiving Day offers cheaper fares and lighter crowds, while return flights on Sunday and Monday are normally more expensive and busier. With airlines still facing challenges that can lead to delays or cancellations. Flexible itineraries and early-morning departures remain the safest bets.
Those traveling by bus, train or boat are joining the surge too. Nearly 2.5 million people are expected to travel by these modes, an impressive 8.5% increase over last year.
As for popular destinations, AAA’s booking trends show familiar favorites: Florida continues to dominate as a top Thanksgiving destination given its warm temperatures, theme parks and major cruise ports. International travelers are also escaping to the warming weather, from Caribbean beaches to European cities and even farther-flung destinations like Australia.
For anyone traveling this Thanksgiving, the overarching theme is that the earlier you start your journey, the smoother your holiday is likely to be. With millions of Americans on the move, a little planning can go a long way toward keeping the holiday spirit intact.
Read the original article on People