Thanksgiving Travel Forecast: 82 Million Americans Expected to Travel, AAA Reports

Thanksgiving Travel Projections

• 🎯 AAA projects that nearly 82 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for the Thanksgiving holiday.
• 🚗 The vast majority of these travelers are expected to be driving.

Road Travel Conditions and Tips

• ⚠️ Drivers experienced slippery and slow rides on Tuesday evening due to rainy conditions.
• ⏰ Historically, Wednesday is the busiest driving day, but Tuesday is increasingly becoming a peak travel day.
• 🗓️ Triple A projects the worst time to be on the roads will be Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• 💡 To beat the rush, it's advised to leave before 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday or travel on Thanksgiving Day itself.

Air Travel and Airport Conditions

• ✈️ A record 31 million passengers are expected to fly over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Airlines for America.
• ⛈️ Two cross-country storm systems could force flight cancellations, potentially increasing the number of drivers.
• 🧑‍✈️ Despite a chronic air traffic controller shortage, the FAA has beefed up staffing for the holiday week.
• ✅ Travelers at Newark Airport on Tuesday did not face major delays, with many flights reported as on time.

Return Travel Expectations

• 📈 The ride back after Thanksgiving is also expected to bring a record number of travelers to both airports and roads.