With millions set to travel for Thanksgiving, good planning is the best way to avoid getting stuck in traffic and make sure you get to tuck into that tasty turkey on time.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has predicted almost 55 million people will be traveling 50 miles or more for the holiday.
That marks a 1.5 percent increase compared to 2021 and 2022. Thanksgiving is projected to be the third-busiest day for travel since the AAA started its tracking service in 2000.
It also highlighted the worst times to travel for those seeking to avoid nasty traffic.
"Families and friends are eager to spend time together this Thanksgiving, one of the busiest for travel in the past two decades," said Paula Twidale, AAA's senior vice president of travel. "Plan ahead and pack your patience, whether you're driving or flying."
Speaking on flying she said: "Airport parking spaces fill up fast, so reserve a spot ahead of time and arrive early. Anticipate long TSA lines. If possible, avoid checking a bag to allow for more flexibility if flights are delayed or you need to reschedule."
According to AAA, the best times to travel by car depend on the day you set off.
For Wednesday, November 23, the best time to travel is before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. The worst time to travel is between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
On Thanksgiving day itself, the best time to travel is before 11 a.m. and after 6 p.m. The worst time is between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
For Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the worst times to travel remain between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. The best time on those says is before 11 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
When to Go Home
For Saturday, the best travel time is before 2 p.m. and after 8 p.m. However, during the festive period, Saturday remains one of the busiest days to return home, according to community-based traffic and navigation app Waze.
Based on data from 2021, Waze has said the best day to return from Thanksgiving is on Friday.
It says travel should be avoided on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Saturday after, as these are typically the most congested days on the roads.
The company told Newsweek that the least congested travel day before the big event is Monday, with Tuesday the next best option. After Thanksgiving, the clearest day to travel is Friday, and then Sunday—and that Saturday is definitely the worst choice.
Travelers should also be aware that weather conditions may extend travel time.
Meteorologists have been monitoring weather systems that could cause disruption before, during and after Thanksgiving. Major cities like Chicago, Atlanta and New York could be impacted.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
