Tips for avoiding Thanksgiving travel headaches around Philly
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Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
The busy Thanksgiving travel season is underway.
Why it matters: Planning ahead is your best shot at skipping (most of) the crowds on the roads and in airports.
The big picture: AAA forecasts nearly 82 million people will travel at least 50 miles this Thanksgiving, with most going by car (90%).
🚙 Driving the news: The worst congestion on regional roads is slated for 2:15pm on Sunday as people leave Philly post-Thanksgiving along Interstate 95 S going to Baltimore and DC, per an analysis of transportation data by INRIX.
- Plan for travel times to clock in around 2 hours, 38 minutes — 85% longer than usual.
- AAA defines the Thanksgiving travel period as between Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Monday, Dec. 1
🛣️ As for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Wednesday is shaping up to be the worst day to hit the road, with an estimated 705,000 drivers.
- Nearly 3.4 million drivers are expected to take the Turnpike between Tuesday and Sunday.
📷 Pro tip: Check traffic cameras for real-time updates.
✈️ In the air: Nearly 1 million travelers are estimated to fly through Philly's international airport between last Friday and Dec. 2 — a slight drop from last year's forecast, per the airport.
- Worst travel days: Sunday, with more than 99,000 passengers expected.
- American Airlines, Philly's biggest carrier, tells Axios that Sunday will also be its busiest travel day.
😊 Good news: The Transportation Security Administration has already reopened checkpoints at Terminals A-West and F, which were closed during the government shutdown.
- Plus: Flight restrictions put in place during the government shutdown, including in Philly, were lifted early this month.
💡 Tips for fliers: Arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights, per the airport.
- And don't forget that the airport has opened swanky new club lounges in recent years, including the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club.
☝️ Tips for drivers: Nationally, Thanksgiving Day is shaping up to be the best day to drive, per INRIX.
- The worst: Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Trip home: Hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst backups, per INRIX.