Thanksgiving is expected to be a busy time for driving. These are the best and worst of times

Roads, airways, railways, waterways – they will all be full.

The number of people traveling on Thanksgiving this year will be higher than last year. According to AAA Northeast, 79.9 million travelers are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home during the holidays. It is an increase of 1.7 million people compared to last year.

“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and AAA continues to see demand increase in the wake of the pandemic as Americans reconnect with family and friends and seek memorable trips to new destinations,” said Mark Schieldrop, senior spokesperson for AAA Northeast in a press release.

Here’s what to expect when you travel.

What are the best and worst times to drive regarding Thanksgiving?

AAA Northeast stated that “the worst times to travel by car during Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (before the holiday), according to INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights.

The best time to drive on that Tuesday and Wednesday is early in the morning, with minimal traffic on Thanksgiving Day.

AAA added that “drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those returning Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road.”

How many people are expected to travel by car?

AAA expects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car this Thanksgiving, adding 1.3 million more travelers on the road compared to last year.

“This year’s numbers also surpass pre-pandemic numbers in 2019, when 70.6 million people drove to their Thanksgiving destinations,” AAA Northeast said.

The increase is most likely because motorists are taking advantage of lower gasoline prices this Thanksgiving season, AAA Northeast noted, adding, “The average gasoline price in Massachusetts is down more than 40 cents from this time last year.”

How many people are expected to fly?

AAA stated that air travel during the holidays is also expected to set a record.

“AAA expects 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday, up 2% from last year and up nearly 11% from 2019,” according to an AAA press release. “Flight travelers will pay 3% more for domestic Thanksgiving flights this year, while flight bookings are similar to last year, according to AAA booking data. International flight bookings are up 23% compared to last Thanksgiving, in part because the cost of flying internationally has fallen 5%.”

What about other modes of travel?

AAA stated that nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises and trains. This category is up almost 9% from last year and up 18% from 2019, largely due to the popularity of cruising.

This article originally appeared on Wicklocal.com: Busiest travel days around Thanksgiving in 2024: What you need to know