Triple-A expects a record number of Americans to travel for Thanksgiving. Here’s when you do and DON’T want to hit the road.
They’re expecting just under 82 million people to head out this year, up from around 80 million last year.
73.3 million will drive, 6 million will fly, and 2.5 million will take buses, trains, and other modes of transportation. (I’m traveling by canoe.)
The worst days to leave? It depends on where you’re headed.
But in general, the worst times to be on the road are next Tuesday from noon to 9:00 P.M., and next Wednesday from 11:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. (Which are REALLY broad stretches of time. It’s best to leave as early as you can.)
The worst times to be heading home? Sunday, November 30th between 11:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M., and Monday, December 1st between noon and 8:00 P.M. That Monday is rough, because there’s also regular commuter traffic.
The BEST day to drive is next Thursday. There’s usually not a ton of traffic on Thanksgiving itself.
If you’re renting a car to make the drive, Hertz says next Wednesday will be the busiest day for vehicle pick-ups. And there is some GOOD news: Domestic car rental rates are supposedly down 15% compared to last year.
Drivers can expect gas prices similar to last Thanksgiving, when the national average was $3.06 per gallon. (It’s a tick higher than that right now.)
