John Townsend
Public Relations Manager, DC
O: (202) 481-6820 (ext. 4462108)
C: (202) 253-2171
jtownsend@aaamidatlantic.com
WASHINGTON, D. C. (Wednesday, November 14, 2018) –– Counting blessings and giving thanks, 1.3 million people living in and around Washington, D.C. are expected to venture 50 miles or more from their homes during the extended Thanksgiving holiday travel weekend. Such is the appeal of the fourth Thursday of November each year. This is the highest Thanksgiving travel volume for the Washington, D.C. metro area since 2005. All told, two out of every 10 residents of the Washington metro area, which boasted a 2017 populace that is 6,216,589 strong, will travel more than 50 miles to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family. They will be part and parcel of the 54.3 million pilgrims heading home for the holiday nationwide.
Although spending on Thanksgiving gas prices will be at its highest in four years, it will not be enough to stop 1.2 million metropolitan Washington residents from going over the river and through the woods via personal vehicles to their holiday destinations. It is the preferred mode of transportation for nine in ten Americans, or 48.5 million Thanksgiving travelers. They won’t have the exits and roadways to themselves, especially around big cities and small towns. Millions more are traveling via air, rail, bus and other modes.
“Historically, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the Sunday after the holiday, were the worst days to travel during the busy holiday period,” said John B. Townsend II, AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Manager of Public and Government Affairs. “Now it is shifting, as everyone tries to get a head-start on the holiday, and a jump on millions of other holiday travelers heading for the exits. While the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is still the busiest day to fly, Tuesday is now the worst day and time to hit the highways for the holiday.”
In the cosmic scheme of things, 3.9 million persons residing in Virginia, Maryland and the Washington metro area will travel more than 50 miles during the Thanksgiving holiday. Of that tally, nearly 3.6 million residents will embark on Thanksgiving road trips, proving that the Thanksgiving holiday period is one of the busiest long distance travel periods of the year. Thanksgiving travelers hailing from the Washington metro area may be stuck in traffic as much as two and a half times longer than on normal days. A case in point: on the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway the Tuesday before Thanksgiving from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Thanksgiving 2018 Travel Projections for the Washington Metro Area At-A-Glance
Total Travel & Percentage Increase |
Automobile Travel & Percentage Increase |
Air Travel & Percentage Increase |
Other Modes Of Travel & Percentage Increase |
1,327,300 Washington Metro residents Up 4.7% from 1,267,800 people in 2017. |
1,206,100 area residents (91% of all travelers) Up 4.8% from 1,151,100 in 2017. |
95,500 area residents (7% of travelers) Up 4.6% from 91,300 in 2017. |
25,700 area residents (2% of travelers) Up 0.9% from 25,500 in 2017. |
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Via Roadways. A projected 1,206,100 Washington metro residents plan to travel to their Thanksgiving holiday destinations by automobiles, an increase of 4.8 percent from the 1,151,100 area residents who traveled by automobile over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2017. Travel by automobile is the planned mode of travel for 91 percent of Washington metro area travelers.
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By Air. A projected 95,500 Washington area residents plan to fly to their Thanksgiving holiday destinations, which is an increase of 4.6 percent over the 91,300 people who flew in 2017. Air travel is the planned mode of travel for 7 percent of travelers.
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Via Other Modes. The number of local residents traveling by trains, buses and other modes of transportation is forecast to increase by 0.9 percent to 25,700 persons in comparison to 25,500 in 2017.
Being thankful, 54.3 million Americans nationwide will journey 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving, a 4.8 percent increase over last year, AAA projects. The 2018 holiday weekend will see the highest Thanksgiving travel volume in more than a dozen years (since 2005), with 2.5 million more people taking to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways compared with last year.
For the 48.5 million Americans planning a Thanksgiving road trip, INRIX, a global mobility analytics company, predicts travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. could be as much as four times longer than a normal trip.
“Consumers have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season: higher wages, more disposable income and rising levels of household wealth,” said Bill Sutherland, AAA Travel senior vice president. “This is translating into more travelers kicking off the holiday season with a Thanksgiving getaway, building on a positive year for the travel industry.”
National Thanksgiving Travel Forecast At-A-Glance |
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Total Travel & Percentage Increase |
Automobile Travel & Percentage Increase |
Air Travel & Percentage Increase |
Other Modes Of Travel & Percentage Increase |
54.3 million Americans Up 4.8% from 51.8 million people in 2017. |
48.5 million Americans (89% of all travelers) Up 4.9% from 46.2 million persons in 2017. |
4.3 million Americans (8% of all travelers) Up 5.4% from 4.05 million airline passengers in 2017. |
1.5 million Americans (3% of all travelers) Up 1.4% from 1.5 million people in 2017. |
By the Numbers: 2018 Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Forecast
- Automobiles: The vast majority of travelers – 48.5 million – will hit the road this Thanksgiving, nearly 5 percent more than last year.
- Planes: The largest growth in holiday travel is by air, at 5.4 percent, with 4.27 million travelers.
- Trains, Buses and Cruise Ships: Travel across these sectors will increase by 1.4 percent, with a total 1.48 million passengers.
Drivers Beware: Thanksgiving’s Terrible Traffic
Based on historical and recent travel trends, INRIX, 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. Drivers in San Francisco, New York City and Boston will see the largest delays – nearly quadruple normal drive times.
In most cases, 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. In the Washington, D.C. metro area, the worst time for travel will be Tuesday between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the Capital Beltway going clockwise. The travel delay multiplier is expected to be 2.5x.
“Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays for road trips, and this year will be no different,” says Trevor Reed, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic. Our advice to drivers is to avoid commuting times in major cities altogether or plan alternative routes.”
Higher Gas Prices Not Keeping Holiday Travelers Home
Motorists can expect to pay the highest Thanksgiving gas prices in four years, with a national average of $2.69 as of November 13, 13-cents more than a year ago. “Motorists have become accustomed to this year’s more expensive gas prices and won’t let higher fuel costs deter them from taking Thanksgiving road trips,” said AAA gas price expert Jeanette Casselano.
Best Times to Fly and Book Thanksgiving Flights
An analysis of AAA’s flight booking data from the last three years revealed that the Tuesday and Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving are usually the most popular air travel days and have the highest average price per roundtrip ticket. Meanwhile, Thanksgiving Day consistently has the lowest average price per ticket and is the lightest travel day. Travelers looking to save money this holiday season can fly the morning of the holiday and arrive just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.
Day |
3-Year Average Ticket Price |
Expected Crowds |
Monday (November 19, 2018) |
$465 |
Moderate |
Tuesday (November 20, 2018) |
$509 |
Heavy |
Wednesday (November 21, 2018) |
$507 |
Heavy |
Thursday (November 22, 2018) |
$446 |
Light |
Most travelers booked their flights for Thanksgiving between September 23 and October 25, paying an average ticket price of $478 roundtrip. Procrastinating travelers who still need to book their flights may find cheaper airfares, paying an average ticket price of $459 between now and November 15. However, last-minute flight availability will likely be very limited.
Washington, D.C. Metro Area Car Rental and Hotel Prices Fall
Travelers in the Washington, D.C. metro area can expect to save on car rentals this Thanksgiving holiday season. At $62, the average daily rate is 41 percent less than last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. Travelers can also save on AAA Three Diamond hotels, with an average nightly rate of $118, a decline of 43 percent compared to last year. The average rate for AAA Two Diamond hotels has decreased 24 percent with an average nightly cost of $99.
AAA to Rescue Nearly 360,000 Motorists Nationwide, 25,000 in the AAA Mid-Atlantic Area
AAA expects to rescue nearly 360,000 motorists at the roadside this Thanksgiving with approximately 25,000 in the AAA Mid-Atlantic territory. Dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires will be the leading reasons AAA members will experience car trouble. AAA recommends motorists have their vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop, such as one of AAA Mid-Atlantic’s Car Care Centers or one of the more than 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. Oil changes, fluid level checks, battery tests and tire inspections go a long way toward reducing the chances of a breakdown. Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.
The Thanksgiving holiday period is defined as Wednesday, November 21 to Sunday, November 25.
AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Market. 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 Market 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.
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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 59 million members nationwide and nearly 79,000 members in the District of Columbia. 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 https://aaa.com
Ragina C. Ali
Public Relations Manager, MD
O: (410) 616-1900 (ext. 4361152)
C: (443) 465-5020
RAli@aaamidatlantic.com