Pandemic Thanksgiving Travel Expected To Be Slightly Lighter

Travel around the Hudson Valley should be lighter than usual for Thanksgiving, though AAA still estimates almost 50 million Americans will travel, most by car.

New York officials have strongly discouraged non-essential travel and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised against traveling for over the long holiday weekend — or even having big feasts. SEE: CDC: Best Way To Enjoy Safe Thanksgiving Is By 'Staying Home'

They also reminded drivers that cashless tolling is live on the entire 570-mile Thruway system, through 58 tolling points and seven of the Thruway’s fixed-price barriers in the lower Hudson Valley and Western New York regions.

AAA was estimating about 50 million Americans would travel for Thanksgiving, down from 55 million in 2019. Since the CDC's advisory, they've lowered the estimate a bit further.

"The wait-and-see travel trend continues to impact final travel decisions, especially for the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel. “The decision to travel is a personal one. For those who are considering making a trip, the majority will go by car, which provides the flexibility to modify holiday travel plans up until the day of departure.”

AAA anticipates at least a 10 percent drop in travel – the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession in 2008.

New York's rules

Traveling farther than New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania or Massachusetts?

New York residents coming back from any place other than those five states has to do several things: fill out the Traveler Health Form and quarantine until you have a negative test or for 14 days. Read the details here.

If you're considering traveling, the CDC offers these recommendations:

If you are considering it, here are some important questions to ask yourself and your loved ones beforehand to help determine the risks.

Making a decision

• Does your home or destination have requirements or restrictions for travelers? Check state and local requirements before you travel.
• During the 14 days before your travel, have you or those you are visiting had close contact with people they don’t live with?
• Do your plans include traveling by bus, train, or air which might make staying 6 feet apart difficult?
• Are you traveling with people who don’t live with you?

If you're going:

• Check travel restrictions before you go.
• Get your flu shot before you travel.
• Stay at least 6 feet apart from anyone who does not live with you.
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.
• Bring extra supplies, such as masks and hand sanitizer.
• Know when to delay your travel.