If you’re hitting the road this Thanksgiving … you definitely won’t be alone. About 82 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home, a new record, according to AAA. Of those, about 1.3 million will be travelling from the D.C. area.
Let’s take a look at the overall best and worst travel times before the holiday in the D.C. area:
- The best: before 10 a.m. Tuesday or Wednesday, or on Thanksgiving Day itself
- The worst: Tuesday between noon and 9 p.m. or Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. If possible … DON’T DO IT! Major routes such as I-95, the Capital Beltway, and I-270 are expected to see major delays.
For coming back to town after Thanksgiving:
- Sunday is likely to be all-day chaos.
AAA predicts 73 million people will travel by car this holiday. But that number could jump because of the recent government shutdown. Concerns over flight cancellations caused some air travelers to switch to road trips.
Gas prices are slightly lower than last year, giving travelers a small break at the pump. Train ticket sales are also expected to see an uptick in last-minute bookings.
We always say this, and it may seem silly, but check your car battery and tire pressure before you head out. Last Thanksgiving, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues such as dead batteries, flat tires and empty tanks.
What to know about air travel over Thanksgiving
Airports will also be packed. BWI Marshall, Dulles International and Reagan National all are projecting passenger counts close to pre-pandemic levels.
The most popular domestic destination, according to AAA: Orlando. And across the pond? Paris. (Take. Us. With. You.)
What to know about Thanksgiving travel in Maryland
Best times to travel on I-95: The best times to drive on Interstate 95 and through the Fort McHenry Tunnel), according to the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), include:
- Tuesday, Nov. 25 – before noon and after 10 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 26 – before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 27 – before 8 a.m. and after 4 p.m.
- Friday, Nov. 28 – before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 29– before 8 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 30 – before 8 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
Rest stops: The I-95 travel plazas (Chesapeake House at mile marker 97 and Maryland House at mile marker 82) are open 24/7 with food, indoor/outdoor seating, gas and electric vehicle charging stations.
Bay Bridge: The MDTA says two-way operations will be effect to help ease eastbound delays at the bridge, weather- and traffic-permitting. For 24/7 Bay Bridge traffic information, you may call 1-877-BAYSPAN (1-877-229-7726) or check baybridge.com.
Real-time info: You can check the MDTA traffic cameras online here and the Bay Bridge cameras here. For real-time updates on major incidents on Maryland toll roads, you can follow the MDTA X at @TheMDTA.
What to know about Thanksgiving travel in Virginia
Travel trends: You can check the travel trends map for Thanksgiving weekend on the website for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). It uses historical trends to show when peak congestion is expected.
Best times to drive: According to VDOT’s map:
- Tuesday, Nov. 25 – best before 7 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 26 – best before 8 a.m., but periods of lighter and heavier traffic may be intermittent throughout the day, before easing in the evening
- Sunday, Nov. 30 – the morning’s traffic is looking to be much lighter than mid- to late afternoon
Highway work zones: Virginia officials will suspend many highway work zones and lift temporary lane closures on interstates and other major roads from Wednesday, Nov. 26 at noon through Monday, Dec. 1 at noon. However, drivers may encounter semi-permanent work zones that will remain in place.
Real-time info: Check VDOT’s travel advisories page for travel alerts. VDOT’s free mobile 511 app provides info on traffic, construction, electric vehicle charging stations and more. You can also call 511 or check 511.vdot.virginia.gov.
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