Wednesday, November 27, is expected to be a very busy travel day and that could create record delays. AAA expects more than 55 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving - the second-highest Thanksgiving travel volume since AAA began tracking in 2000, trailing the record set in 2005. 

The vast majority of holiday travelers will drive to their destinations and, INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, expects Wednesday afternoon to be the worst travel period nationally, with trips taking as much at four times longer than normal in major metros.

Many local residents are traveling to New York City for the annual parade and they should be aware of potential gridlock in the Big Apple and other large cities:

Source: INRIX

Area roadways and toll booths along the NYS Thruway will likely be busy as well so motorists should give themselves plenty of extra time to get to their destinations, not only on Wednesday, but throughout the holiday week. And be aware that many travelers will try to leave early Wednesday morning to beat the traffic so that could lead to morning delays as well.

“We also expect Sunday to be a very busy travel day as well,” said Elizabeth Carey, director of public relations at AAA WCNY. “With everyone anxious to return home to get to work on Monday, traffic will likely be busy throughout the day on Sunday.” 

More than 368,000 motorists will call AAA for assistance at the roadside this Thanksgiving holiday. Dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts will be the leading reasons AAA members will experience car trouble. AAA recommends motorists take their vehicles to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out on a road trip. They should also pack a roadside emergency kit with a cell phone charger, jumper cables, tools, warm clothes, snacks and water. And remember to slow down and move over for stopped emergency vehicles at the roadside.

“The best way to avoid a roadside emergency is to plan ahead and make sure your vehicle is prepared for the road trip – that means good tires, a strong battery and proper fluids,” said Steve Steinmetz, director of automotive services at AAA WCNY.

Air travel is expected to be up nearly five percent this year with nearly 4.5 million Americans flying. “This is the biggest increase we’ve seen in Thanksgiving air travel volume so travelers should also give themselves plenty of time in airports to get through security,” said Brian Murray, director of travel at AAA WCNY. “Always arrive at least 90 minutes prior to your flight and check with your airline for any potential delays.”

Orlando tops the list for both local and national destinations based on AAA Travel bookings. It is the top destination from the Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse airports this week based on reservations arranged with AAA. Other warm weather destinations are also drawing holiday travelers.

 
1.    Orlando, Florida
2.    Anaheim, California
3.    New York, New York
4.    Las Vegas, Nevada
5.    Honolulu, Hawaii
6.    Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
7.    Tampa, Florida
8.    Kahului, Maui, Hawaii
9.    Phoenix, Arizona
10.  Miami, Florida