Almost 49 Million Individuals Set To Hit The Highway This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is almost upon us and which means thousands and thousands of Individuals are hitting the highway.

AAA estimates 54.6 million individuals will journey no less than 50 miles (80 km) away from dwelling this 12 months and that’s virtually a return to pre-pandemic ranges. A overwhelming majority of them, 48.7 million, will likely be touring by automotive and that’s a 0.4% enhance from 2021. Nonetheless, the group famous automotive journey stays 2.5% under 2019 ranges.

With so many individuals touring, drivers ought to count on delays particularly in Atlanta, Chicago, New York Metropolis, and Los Angeles. Specifically, I-278 South in New York is predicted to see a 158% enhance in visitors between I-495 and sixth Ave.

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Credit score: AAA

Visitors is predicted to be the worst as we speak, however tomorrow gained’t be a cakewalk both. For these trying to keep away from visitors on turkey day, specialists recommend staying off the roads between 11:00 am and 6:00 pm. In fact, that’s simpler stated than carried out and drivers ought to pack loads of persistence.

Apart from busier roads, drivers should cope with greater fuel costs. Whereas costs have fallen from their peak of $5.016 per gallon this summer time, common unleaded continues to be comparatively costly because the nationwide common is $3.609 per gallon. That’s up from $3.403 per gallon final 12 months and costs are roughly $1 extra per gallon than earlier than the pandemic.

In fact, costs fluctuate by location and drivers in Los Angeles are getting hit by a double whammy of busy roads and excessive gas prices. The common worth of a gallon of standard unleaded is $5.157 in California and which means the state has the second highest common worth behind Hawaii, the place it’s $5.197 per gallon.