How to avoid D.C. Thanksgiving traffic and airport headaches
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Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Highways and airports will likely be stuffed with stuffing-hungry travelers this Thanksgiving holiday season.
Why it matters: Almost 80 million people nationwide are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, per a AAA forecast — a record that shatters last year's traveler record.
- Plan ahead so your (turkey) feathers don't get all ruffled while in the security line at DCA or on I-95.
State of play: Thanksgiving driving congestion in the DMV should peak Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 4:30pm on the US-50 East stretch between D.C. and Annapolis, per data transportation group INRIX.
- The estimated travel time along this stretch is an hour and 31 minutes, with congestion expected to clock in at 120% above average.
Nationally, the worst times to travel via car before Thanksgiving will be Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, per INRIX.
- The best time to hit the road for some turkey: Thanksgiving Day itself.
- Heading back? Hit the road early Sunday.
For fliers: Expect the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the following Sunday to be the most jam-packed days, predicts TSA.
Context: AAA defines the Thanksgiving travel period as the time from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2.
By the numbers: 71.8 million people are expected to travel via car over the Thanksgiving holiday, per AAA's travel forecast — a 1.9% jump from last year.
- And 5.8 million people will fly domestically — a 2.1% increase.
Meanwhile, 2.3 million people will travel by other means like trains, buses and cruises. That's a jump of 8.9% from last year, in large part thanks to the popularity of cruises, per AAA.
Pro tips for drivers: Virginia and Maryland are lifting most lane closures surrounding the holiday, state transportation department spokespeople tell Axios.
- Plus: There are live traffic cameras and maps and a real-time list of traffic incidents to keep Maryland road warriors in the loop.
- Meanwhile, Virginia has a map showing estimated holiday travel traffic.
Pro tips for fliers: Travelers should arrive at the airport two hours in advance for domestic travel and three hours early for international flights, per the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Plus: You can reserve parking spots in advance at DCA and Dulles. And though you can't reserve spots at BWI, you can check in advance to see how full each garage is.