How to beat Washington traffic this Thanksgiving
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Thanksgiving travel in Washington and across the country is shaping up to break records, with AAA projecting 81.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1.
Why it matters: The Evergreen State is bracing for one of its busiest Thanksgiving travel weeks in years, meaning heavier congestion and longer delays across major corridors — especially on I-5, I-90 and U.S. 2.
Car talk: AAA projects that 90% of all holiday travelers (or 73 million Americans) will hop in their cars this Thanksgiving.
- Today and tomorrow from around 11am to 9pm are expected to be the busiest times to travel by road ahead of Thanksgiving, with Sunday the busiest day for travelers returning home, according to INRIX.
- A Seattle-to-Bellingham run this evening could take 3 hours and 22 minutes — 77% longer than usual, INRIX says.
- In Washington, average gas prices sit around $4.18 per gallon, compared with the $3.07 national average, per AAA.
On the fly and by ferry: AAA expects 6 million Americans to take to the skies this Thanksgiving, a 2% increase from 2024.
- Flying out on Thanksgiving Day can save you dough, while returning on Sunday and Monday will cost more.
- Washington State Ferries says it expects about 300,000 riders over the holiday and has added more than 10% more daily sailings — but drivers should still expect long waits at terminals.
What we're watching: Colder than normal temperatures, rain in the lowlands and snow in the passes could complicate travel.
What they're saying: "Check weather, road conditions and flight statuses before heading out — and be prepared for heavy traffic or delays," says Heidi Dettmer of AAA Washington.
The bottom line: Leave early, especially today, tomorrow and Sunday, if you want to stay ahead of the crush.