How to avoid Thanksgiving travel headaches around Philly
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Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia International Airport
Count on airports and highways being stuffed with travelers this Thanksgiving season.
State of play: Nearly 80 million people are likely to travel for the holiday, which would top last year's record by 1.7 million, per AAA.
😉 Driving the news: Road congestion is projected to peak at 12:15pm on Sunday, Dec. 1, from the Poconos to Philly via Interstate 76 and the Blue Route (I-476), per an analysis of transportation data by INRIX.
- Plan for travel times to reach nearly 3.5 hours along this route, with congestion likely 62% above average.
- AAA defines the Thanksgiving travel period as between Nov. 26 and Dec. 2.
On the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Wednesday is projected to be the biggest headache (think: some 680,00 travelers), per the agency.
- More than 3.4 million drivers are expected to hit the Turnpike between Tuesday and Dec. 1.
- Maintenance work will be suspended during that time.
🛠️ Pro tip: Check traffic cameras for real-time updates.
Between the lines: State and local police have put into effect their holiday safety enforcement, which includes sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols.
✈️ If you're flying: It'll be you and 1.04 million others passing through the terminals at Philadelphia International Airport through Dec. 3, up 12% over last year, per the airport.
- The least bad day: Thanksgiving itself, with fewer than 49,000 travelers at the airport.
- The worst: Sunday, Dec. 1, with more than 99,000 people expected.
💡 Tips for fliers: Arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights, per the airport.
- Check out the reading area and book exchange in Terminal A-West, where you can also find a free short-story dispenser.
Zoom out: Nationally, the best time to drive is Thanksgiving Day, per INRIX.
- Worst: Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.
- Returning home: Hit the road early on Sunday, Dec. 1, or before 8am on Monday, Dec. 2.