AAA says these are the best — and worst — times for KY drivers to travel for Thanksgiving
More than 1 million Kentuckians will travel 50 miles or more to enjoy Thanksgiving this year, and the vast majority of them will be traveling by personal vehicle.
That’s the topline takeaway from auto group AAA, which for Kentucky, projects an increase of nearly 2% in travel compared to 2023. According to AAA Blue Grass spokesperson Lori Weaver Hawkins, that’s in line with a national surge in holiday travel that’s even higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Nationwide, AAA estimates some 80 million Americans will travel for Thanksgiving this year.
“We expect that nationwide Thanksgiving travel is going to surpass what we saw pre-pandemic by about 2 million additional people traveling than what we saw in 2019,” Weaver Hawkins wrote the Herald-Leader in an email Tuesday. “In Kentucky, a wide majority―about 96% of all Thanksgiving travelers―will be taking to the roadways, compared to just under 90% nationwide. Lower gas prices compared to 2023 are helping to fuel the interest in taking a road trip over the Thanksgiving holiday.”
If you’re hoping to beat the traffic, here are the best and worst times to hit the road in Kentucky.
What are the worst times to travel for Thanksgiving in 2024?
Typically the worst times to travel by car for Thanksgiving are the Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon immediately proceeding the holiday, according to AAA.
For driving back home, the absolute worst day for that is Monday, Dec. 2, so don’t stay late if you want to avoid traffic.
Here’s a more specific breakdown of the worst times to drive, per AAA:
Monday, Nov. 25 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 1 to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 1 to 5 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 29 from 7 to 10 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 1 from noon to 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What are the best times to hit the road for Thanksgiving?
The absolute best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself, given that AAA expects minimal traffic at that time.
Other than that, the best times to leave for and return from your Thanksgiving holiday by car are as follows:
Monday, Nov. 25 before 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26 before 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 27 before 10 a.m.
Friday, Nov. 29 after 1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30 before 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 1 before 1 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 2 before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
What’s the outlook for Thanksgiving air travel?
Roughly 27,000 Kentuckians are expected to catch a flight for Thanksgiving, according to figures from AAA Blue Grass. Those flyers should expect busier airports than last year, given there’s a projected 2% increase in air travel for Thanksgiving nationwide this year.
According to AAA, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration is expecting to screen more than 3 million travelers by Dec. 1, which would break the previous record set in July of this year.
Those travelers are paying more for airfare, too. The average price for a domestic round-trip flight is $700 — about 3% higher than last year, according to AAA.
How much does gas cost in Kentucky this Thanksgiving?
While the roads are likely going to be busier, the good news is Thanksgiving drivers will save some money on gas.
According to AAA Blue Grass, the average cost per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, as of Nov. 19, was $2.78. That’s about 28 cents less than the average a year ago, and it’s the 13th lowest in the nation. Still, cost always rises with demand, so you might want to fill up your tank sooner rather than later.
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