The Thanksgiving travel rush has begun as millions of people hit the road to get home to their families for the holiday.
Tuesday was exepected to be the busiest day of the holiday week on the highways, according to the AAA.
For those who get on the road between 5pm and 6pm, their travel times are predicted to take three times longer than any other time of the day.
The worst time to travel on Wednesday is between 3pm and 7pm and would take commuters twice as long to get to their destinations.
The Thanksgiving travel rush (travelers in Chicago on Tuesday) has begun as millions of people hit the road to get home to their families for the holiday. Tuesday was exepected to be the busiest day of the holiday weekend on the highways, according to the AAA
For those who get on the road between 5pm and 6pm, their travel times are predicted to take three times longer than any other time of the day. Travelers head into New York City on Tuesday
On Sunday, the AAA released a report that this Thanksgiving will see the highest number of travelers taking to the roads since 2005.
According to the report, 50.9 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for the Thanksgiving holiday between November 21 to November 26.
In the breakdown of modes of transportation travelers will utilize this holiday, about 45.5 million will travel by automobile, up 3.2 per cent. Air travel will rise five per cent to nearly four million.
With the US economy expected to expand to 2.7 per cent in the fourth quarter, according to Bloomberg News, and unemployment at 4.1 per cent, its lowest level since 2000, more Americans will be traveling.
‘More thankful Americans will travel to spend time with friends and family this year,’ Bill Sutherland, AAA senior vice president, travel and publishing said.
Transportation analytics firm INRIX identified what are expected to be some of the biggest bottlenecks over the holidays.
They are expected to include 5pm to 6pm on Tuesday in Chicago, where trips can take three times as long as during non-rush hour, and 4pm to 4.45pm in San Francisco.
Topping the list of most congested routes through cities are Interstate 5 through southeast Los Angeles and Interstate 495 E in New York.
In the breakdown of modes of transportation travelers (pictured entering and leaving Massachusetts) will utilize this holiday, about 45.5 million will travel by automobile, up 3.2 per cent
‘Thanksgiving has historically been one of the busiest holidays for road trips, and this year we could see record-level travel delays,’ Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at Seattle-based INRIX, says via AAA’s report.
‘Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic.’
Being stuck in traffic also means spending more at the pump. Gas prices were 19 per cent higher as of last Wednesday over last year’s prices, however AAA says they expect the prices to fall as the holiday nears.
AAA does predict that while they expect to see lower prices at the pump in the coming days, they are expecting travelers to see the highest gas prices since 2014.
Meanwhile air travelers are getting a break for the holiday.
Airfare for the top 40 domestic destinations round trip are averaged at $157, which is a whopping 23 per cent lower than the average of last year’s, and the lowest in five years.
If you ‘re not staying with family and doing the hotel stay, AAA says rates are up this year over last year’s, jumping 14 per cent to $176.
WORST TIME TO TRAVEL BY CAR FOR THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Travelers are stuck in traffic in Chicago ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday
Chicago, IL Tuesday 5:00 – 6.00pm
San Francisco, CA Tuesday 4.00 – 5.45pm
Los Angeles, CA Tuesday 3.15 – 6.00pm
Boston, MA Tuesday 5.15 – 7.15pm
New York, NY Tuesday 5.30 – 6.30pm
Washington, DC Tuesday 4.45 – 6:00pm
Seattle, WA Tuesday 3.45 – 5.30pm
Atlanta, GA Wednesday 3.00 – 5.15pm
Houston, TX Wednesday 5.45 – 7.00pm
Detroit, MI Tuesday 3.00 – 5.30pm
Source: American Automobile Association (AAA)