MINNEAPOLIS — To Grandmother's house we go!
Almost 50 million Americans are expected to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend by car, while another estimated 6 million will travel by air, train, cruise or bus.
The holiday travel forecast released Monday by travel experts at AAA predicts a total 55.37 million Americans will be on the move, which the company said is up 2.3% over last year. AAA said it's the third-highest forecast since 2000, which is when it began tracking holiday travel patterns in the United States.
While AAA said the country's overall busiest time to hit the road for the holiday is projected to be between 2 and 6 p.m. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving — Nov. 22 — it said traffic congestion is expected to peak in the Twin Cities on Black Friday around 5:30 p.m.
“The day before Thanksgiving is notoriously one of the most congested days on our roadways. Travelers should be prepared for long delays, especially in and around major metros,” said Bob Pishue, analyst at transportation data provider company INRIX. “Knowing when and where congestion will build can help minimize holiday traffic frustrations."
As the travel industry continues its resurgence in the wake of COVID, AAA predicts 2023 holiday commuters could have extra incentive to travel this year: lower costs. INRIX data shows average prices for domestic flights are up about 5%, but average prices for hotels (20%), rental cars (20%), cruises (12%) and tours (15%) are down double-digits from last year.
To view travel data from AAA, click here.
Click here to stay up-to-date on traffic and road conditions across Minnesota, and here to track flights coming in and out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
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