WASHINGTON — Travelers with plans to take a trip this Thanksgiving will have a lot of company on the roads, on the rails and in the sky.
“No matter what mode of transportation you’re using, guess what — you’re going to have plenty of company this time around,” said John Townsend, of AAA Mid-Atlantic.
AAA is expecting 49 million Americans to travel more than 50 miles for the holiday. The travel forecast predicts the highest number of Thanksgiving Day travelers seen in nine years, and the number is up nearly two percent from last year.
In the D.C. area, 1.2 million people will go on a trip, and that’s almost a six percent spike over last year’s numbers.
About 91 percent of travelers from the D.C. region plan to make a road trip this year. Many drivers will hit the road as early as the Sunday before the holiday, Townsend said, but the busiest time will be after 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before Turkey Day.
“Every exit ramp and every entrance ramp will be filled to capacity,” Townsend said.
While the increase in the number of travelers is partly fueled by the second-cheapest gas prices in a decade, the big reason people are leaving town, according to Townsend, is the economy.
“They think their quality of life and the quality of their personal economy is much better,” Townsend said.
Air travelers are expected to pay an average of $205 for a round-trip ticket this year for the top 40 domestic routes.
AAA also predicts that a lot of people will travel west this Thanksgiving, with the most popular destinations as follows:
1. Las Vegas, Nevada
2. San Francisco, California
3. San Diego, California
4. Orlando, Florida
5. New York City, New York
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Anaheim, California
8. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
9. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10. Seattle, Washington
The takeaway this holiday, Townsend said, is to pack a lot of patience along with your clothes.
