GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — AAA has released its annual Thanksgiving travel forecast, including tips and recommendations to avoid the holiday rush.
An estimated 1.7 million Michiganders will travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving, which is a 2.6% increase from last year. It is expected to be the third-highest travel forecast since AAA began tracking travel numbers in 2000.
Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA, said anyone traveling around the holidays should anticipate more traffic and delays.
“Travel demand has been strong all year and that trend will continue with one of the busiest Thanksgivings on record,” said Haas. “With more people taking to the roads, skies, rails and sea, travelers should expect congested roads and longer lines at transportation terminals. AAA encourages travelers to develop their plan now, leave early, and be courteous to others.”
A majority of travelers are expected to drive, according to AAA.
If you're looking to avoid traffic during your holiday travel, AAA recommends heading out before or after Wednesday, Nov. 22, which is anticipated to be the busiest travel day of the week. If you must travel on Wednesday, you are encouraged to leave before 11 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
For the rest of the holiday weekend, AAA recommends avoiding travel from around noon until 5 p.m.
The good news for drivers is that gas prices are anticipated to stay low through the holiday. You can check gas prices here.
If you're flying, Haas said it isn't too late to purchase travel insurance.
“There are policies that can provide compensation for flight delays for as little as three hours," she said. "And if a flight is canceled, passengers can receive compensation for covered out-of-pocket expenses.”
To find more travel tips, click here.
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