Photo: Jeff Turner
According to AAA, an estimated 51 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more this Thanksgiving week. That’s 1.6 million more people (3.3% more) than last year’s total. This is the highest volume of people sojourning for this holiday since 2005.
AAA cites rising incomes and a healthy dose of consumer confidence as two major factors of the influx of travelers this season. The organization also predicts that it could take you more than three times longer to get to your destination during this week.
In light of these slightly-depressing predictions, what’s a driver supposed to do to increase the chance of a timely journey this Thanksgiving? Here are some traffic hot spots and popular driving times to avoid both today and throughout the rest of the week.
Photo: Peter Dutton
Worst Times to Drive to Certain Airports
- Denver, CO Downtown to DIA via I-70 E and Pena Blvd
Wednesday 4:30-6:30 PM
- Charlotte, NC Downtown to CLT via US-74 W
Wednesday 1:00-3:00 PM
- Atlanta, GA Downtown to ALT via I-75 S
Wednesday 5:00-7:00 PM
Expect Crowds at These Popular Destinations
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Orlando, Florida
- New York City, New York
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Anaheim, California
- San Francisco, California
- Kahului, Maui, Hawaii
- Las Vegas, Nevada
Worst Traffic Spots to Avoid When Driving
- Miami, FL (I-95 N at Congress Ave)
- Atlanta, GA (I-75 N at Chastain Rd)
- Los Angeles, CA (I-5 S at Valley View Ave)
- New York, NY (I-495 E at NY-106/NY-107)
- Seattle, WA (I-405 S at WA-167)
- Chicago, IL (I-90 W at I-190)
- Dallas, TX (US-75 S at I-45/I-3)
- San Francisco, CA (I-80 E at Pinole Valley Rd)
- Boston, MA (I-90 W at I-84/US-20)
- Washington, DC (I-95 S at US-17/US-1)
Photo: hannahlouise123
From all of us here at The News Wheel, remember to drive safely this holiday—and enjoy a festive Thanksgiving with your loved ones!
News Source: AAA
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.
