AAA Travel predicted Thursday that 46.3 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more from home to celebrate Thanksgiving next week, an increase of 4.2 percent over last year and the highest volume since 2007.
Here are some things to remember if you’re one of those millions with Thanksgiving travel plans:
1: Most will travel by car, but air travel up too: While AAA expects nearly 90 percent of Thanksgiving travel will be by car, the auto club says air travel next week is expected to be at the highest level since 2007, with 3.55 million Americans flying.
2: You’ll pay less to fill up the tank: According to AAA, the current national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.89, the lowest since Dec. 2, 2010. While the local average, according to atlantagasprices.com, is $2.81, gas can be found as cheap as $2.61 at several stations in Morrow and Stockbridge.
3: You’ll pay more for other things: According to AAA, travelers next week will encounter higher prices for airfare, mid-range hotels and rental cars.
4: Roadwork takes a holiday: The Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending construction-related lane closures on interstates and major state routes, beginning at 5 a.m. Wednesday and continuing through 10 p.m. on Nov. 30. Click here for updated traffic information.
5: Thanksgiving week will begin on a wet note, and a slight chance of a rain/snow mix is forecast for parts of north Georgia around the middle of the week. Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton is predicting a 30 percent chance of rain Monday, and the National Weather Service said there's a 20 percent chance of rain or snow showers Tuesday night as far south as the northern suburbs, where temperatures will be in the low 30s. For updates on the chance of rain or wintry precipitation during the holiday week, click here.
6. Georgia State Troopers will be out in full force this coming Thanksgiving holiday travel period to keep down the number of traffic deaths on Georgia roads. Authorities are predicting 2,915 traffic crashes, 1,301 injuries and 20 traffic deaths on Georgia roads during the holiday period which begins at 6 p.m., Wednesday and ends at midnight, Sunday.
7. Avoid traveling on Wednesday. For most cities, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. is the worst traffic time and day of the year.
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