TOWSON, MD (November 14, 2018) –– AAA Mid-Atlantic projects over 1.1 million Marylanders will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, a 4.6 percent increase from last year and the fourth consecutive year travel volume for the holiday has exceeded one million. This year’s forecast represents the highest travel volume since the 2005 Thanksgiving holiday.

The Thanksgiving holiday period is defined as Wednesday, November 21 to Sunday, November 25.

“As the economy continues to grow, along with wages, disposable income, and household wealth, many Marylanders are feeling enough confidence to not hold back on spending, which is evident by this year’s robust holiday travel forecast,” said Ragina Cooper Averella, Manager of Public and Government Affairs at AAA Mid-Atlantic.

                            2018 Projected Thanksgiving Holiday Travel - Maryland

Record Volume Expected for Automobile Travel/ Best Times To Travel

Over one million Marylanders are expected to drive to their destination, a record number that also has exceeded the one million mark for Thanksgiving auto travel for the second time since AAA began tracking holiday travel back in 2001.

Based on historical and recent travel trends, INRIX, a global mobility analytics company, in collaboration with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the greatest amount of congestion Thanksgiving week during the early evening commute period, with travel times starting to increase on Monday.

The best days to travel will be on Thanksgiving Day, Friday or Saturday. Drivers should expect increased travel times on Sunday, as most holiday travelers will be making their way home after the long weekend.

INRIX identified 15 hotspots around the Baltimore Metro Area where drivers can expect to find the worst congestion during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period:

Baltimore

Legend:  CCW = Counter clockwise     CW = Clockwise

With the record volume of Marylanders driving to their destination and the weather turning colder, AAA Mid-Atlantic reminds motorists to ensure their car is road ready by having their vehicle inspected by a certified auto technician prior to the trip in order to avoid the possibility of spending some of their holiday stranded on the side of the road.

AAA Mid-Atlantic expects to rescue nearly 25,000 stranded motorists across the club’s territory, with more than 6,500 of those rescues in Maryland, based on the call volume for the 2017 holiday. Tows, dead batteries and flat tires are expected to be the top three reasons for roadside service.

Gas Prices Nearing 2018 Low

As of Tuesday, November 13, Maryland’s average price was 16 cents lower than the national average at $2.53 per gallon. The state average is seven cents less than last week, 30 cents less than last month, and on par with last year’s price on this date. Maryland’s average is now within five cents from the 2018 low price of $2.48 per gallon set on March 9.

“After reaching a 2018 high of $2.99 per gallon Memorial Day weekend, Maryland’s prices have been on a downward track and some areas across the state are now even pricing lower than last year at this time,” commented Averella. “Prices could drop even lower, especially if there is a surge in gasoline production after refiners fully restart units from the fall maintenance season, and oil prices continue to remain stable.”

Number Of Marylanders Flying Highest Since 2006

Over 82,000 Marylanders are expected to fly, which reflects a 4.5 percent increase from 2017. This is the highest volume for the Thanksgiving holiday since 2006.

“The expected growth in air travel correlates with higher levels of disposable income and consumer confidence,” said Averella.

Nominal Increase For Other Modes of Travel

Nearly 22,000 Marylanders are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including train, bus, or watercraft, a less than one percent increase compared to last year.

AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit. The London-based business information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA/IHS Markit 2018 Thanksgiving holiday travel forecast is available here.

About INRIX:

INRIX is the global leader in connected car services and transportation analytics. Leveraging big data and the cloud, INRIX delivers comprehensive services and solutions to help move people, cities and businesses forward. Our partners are automakers, governments, mobile operators, developers, advertisers, as well as enterprises large and small. Learn more at INRIX.com. 

About AAA:

AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to over 59 million members nationwide and more than 975,000 members in Maryland.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information, visit AAA.com.

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