BUFFALO, N.Y. — A near-record number of Americans will be journeying more than 50 miles away from home for Thanksgiving, according to AAA.
Of the 55 million Americans planning trips for the holiday, 49.3 million of them will be traveling by car, making traffic a potential nightmare for those looking for a relaxing start to the holiday season.
INRIX, the global leader in transportation analytics, says there'll be major delays all week leading up to Thanksgiving. Wednesday will be the worst day to get behind the wheel.
“With record levels of travelers, and persistent population growth in the country’s major metropolitan areas, drivers must prepare for major delays,” said Trevor Reed, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Although travel times will peak on Wednesday afternoon nationally, travelers should expect much heavier than normal congestion throughout the week.”
AAA expects over 368,000 motorists will need some sort of roadside assistance on their trip. They recommend having your car looked at by a professional before going on any lengthy holiday drve.
People taking to the skies for travel, AAA recommends flying the Monday before Thanksgiving. Over the last three years, Monday has had the lowest average ticket price. It's also been the lightest travel day, helping people avoid the holiday rush.