OHIO — Thanksgiving travel is projected to hit near pre-pandemic levels this year, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
What You Need To Know
- In Ohio, 1.9 million people are expected to travel by car for Thanksgiving, according to AAA
- AAA says best travel times are before 8 a.m. on Wednesday and before 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving. The worst times are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after the holiday
- Overall, air travel is up nearly 8% over 2021, so expect busy airports with long TSA lines and less airport parking
- AAA predicts highways in and around Atlanta, Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles will be the busiest
Busy airports and roads will require patience, said AAA, which estimates 4.5 million Americans plan to fly to their Thanksgiving destinations.
Driving continues to be the most popular form of transportation, according to the organization. It predicts approximately 49 million people nationwide will travel by car. That includes 1.9 million people in Ohio.
“The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest time,” said Ohio AAA spokesperson Kara Hitchens. “We always recommend people go before 8 a.m. — if you can — to beat that morning rush.”
“And then after 8 p.m. on Wednesday, if you’re traveling on that day, to beat the evening rush home,” Hitchens added.
