RICHMOND, VA (November 15, 2022)–AAA predicts 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving. That’s a 1.5% increase over 2021 and 98% of pre-pandemic volumes. This year is projected to be the third busiest for Thanksgiving travel since AAA started tracking in 2000*. “Families and friends are eager to spend time together this Thanksgiving, one of the busiest for travel in the past two decades,” says Morgan Dean, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson. “Plan ahead and be prepared for backups and delays, whether you’re driving or flying, as the roads and airports are expected to both be busy this Thanksgiving season.” Most travelers will drive to their destinations, much like last year. Nearly 49 million people are expected to travel by car. While Thanksgiving road trips have slightly risen – up 0.4% from 2021 – car travel remains 2.5% below 2019 levels. Air travel is up nearly 8% over 2021, with 4.5 million Americans flying to their Thanksgiving destinations this year. That’s an increase of more than 330,000 travelers and just 1% shy of the 2019 volume.  “Airport parking spaces fill up fast, so reserve a spot ahead of time and arrive early,” Dean suggests. “Anticipate long TSA lines. If possible, avoid checking a bag to allow for more flexibility if flights are delayed or you need to reschedule.” Americans are also ramping up travel by other modes of transportation. More than 1.4 million travelers are going out of town for Thanksgiving by bus, train, or cruise ship. That’s an increase of 23% from 2021 and 96% of 2019 travel volumes. “With travel restrictions lifted and more people comfortable taking public transportation again, it’s no surprise buses, trains, and cruises are coming back in a big way,” Dean adds. “Regardless of the mode of transportation you have chosen, expect crowds during your trip and at your destination. If your schedule is flexible, consider off-peak travel times during the holiday rush.” *2005 and 2019 have been the busiest years for Thanksgiving travel, respectively, since AAA started tracking in 2000.  Busiest Corridors and Best/Worst Times to Travel INRIX expects severe congestion in several U.S. metro areas, with some drivers experiencing more than double normal delays. Highways in and around Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles will be the busiest. To avoid the most hectic times, INRIX recommends traveling early in the morning on Wednesday or before 11am on Thanksgiving Day and avoiding travel between 4pm-8pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Best & Worst Times to Travel (by car)  Date  Worst travel time  Best travel time  11/23/22 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Before 8:00 AM, After 8:00 PM 11/24/22 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Before 11:00 AM, After 6:00 PM 11/25/22 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Before 11:00 AM, After 8:00 PM 11/26/22 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Before 2:00 PM, After 8:00 PM 11/27/22 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Before 11:00 AM, After 8:00 PM “Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays for road trips, and this year will be no different,” says Bob Pishue, Transportation Analyst, INRIX. “Although travel times will peak on Wednesday afternoon nationally, travelers should expect much heavier than normal congestion throughout the holiday weekend. Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic.” Peak Congestion by Metro  Metro  Corridor  Increase Over Typical Traffic  Peak Congestion  Atlanta I-85 South; Clairmont Rd  to MLK Jr Dr 105% Wed, 11/23/22 – 1:30-3:30 PM Boston I-93 South; Albany St to MA-24 53% Wed, 11/23/22 – 2:15-4:15 PM Chicago I-290 West; Morgan St to Wolf Rd 99% Wed, 11/23/22 – 3:00-5:00 PM Detroit US-23 North; 8 Mile Rd to Lee Rd 32% Wed, 11/23/22 – 2:00-4:00 PM Houston I-10 West; Sjolander Rd to TX-330 81% Wed, 11/23/22 – 3:45-5:45 PM Los Angeles I-5 South; Colorado St to Florence Ave 144% Wed, 11/23/22 – 5:30-7:30 PM New York I-278 South; I-495 to 6th Ave 158% Wed, 11/23/22 – 2:45-4:45 PM San Francisco I-80 West; Maritime St to San Pablo Dam Rd 80% Wed, 11/23/22 – 4:00-5:00 PM Seattle I-5 South;  WA-18 to WA-7 86% Wed, 11/23/22 – 4:15-6:15 PM Washington DC I-495 Counterclockwise; I-95 to VA-123 85% Sun, 11/27/22 – 11:15 AM-1:15 PM