Worst Thanksgiving Eve Travel Times By Highway In DC Area

WASHINGTON, DC — Travelers heading to Thanksgiving gatherings from Northern Virginia and DC on the day before the holiday, beware. Wednesday, Nov. 27 is expected to be the worst day for delays during the extended Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA and traffic research firm INRIX's predictions. That's attributed to school districts' Thanksgiving breaks starting and commuters heading out after work.

An estimated 1,221,000 DC metro residents will hit the roads to join family for Thanksgiving feasts. AAA and INRIX have released the worst times for delays by highway in the DC region. All of the worst delay times fall on Nov. 27, except for U.S. 50 on Thursday, Nov. 28.

Here are the times to avoid:

The Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving tend to the worst days surrounding the holiday. Travelers should aim to drive during off-peak times—early morning or later evening—when possible.

The Virginia Department of Transportation released its own predictions for major roadways. You can check the Thanksgiving travel trends map ahead of your trip and stay up to date with road conditions at 511Virginia.org.

Here are peak congestion times anticipated on highways in Northern Virginia and around the state:

• I-66 and I-95 in Northern Virginia: Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• I-66 west between Capital Beltway and Prince William Parkway: Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• I-64 west in Hampton Roads: Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• I-95 north between Richmond and Fredericksburg: Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• I-95 south around Fredericksburg: Thursday, Nov. 28 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• I-95 north in Northern Virginia: Friday, Nov. 29 from noon to 6:30 p.m.
• I-81 between Ironto and Staunton: Sunday, Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• I-64 east near I-81 interchange at Lexington: Sunday, Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Travel forecast at airports

AAA cautions that Thanksgiving will also lead to crowded airports. Around 99,100 DC area residents will travel by airplane, up from 95,800 in 2018. The Transportation Security Administration expects 26.8 million people to go through security checkpoints at airports nationwide from Nov. 22 to Dec. 2. Similar to road predictions, the busiest travel days at airports will be Nov. 27 and Dec. 1.

To make the screening process goes smoothly, follow these tips from TSA:

• Get to the airport early—two hours prior to a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight.
• Know which foods can travel in your carry-on or checked luggage. Pies, cakes, stuffing mix, casseroles, are all good in a carry-on bag because they are solid food items. Gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam, preserves, should all go into a checked bag. If you can spill it, spray it, spread it, pump it or pour it, then it’s not a solid and should be packed in a checked bag.
• Wear slip-on shoes. Shoe laces and zip-up boots take extra time to remove and put back on.
• Place your electronic carving knife (or your non-electric knife) in your checked bag.
• Pack smart. Don’t bring along any prohibited items. If you are not sure if an item should go in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither, don’t be shy, just tweet your question to @AskTSA or ask via Facebook Messenger.
• Download the free MyTSA app and type in an item and it lets you know immediately if you should pack it in a checked or carry-on bag. It also can let you know if there is an airport delay and whether TSA Precheck lanes are available.
• Use your time in the checkpoint line wisely. It’s the perfect time to take items out of your pockets and place them in your carry-on bag and to get your ID and boarding pass ready to hand to the TSA officer.
• Enroll in TSA Precheck—if not before Thanksgiving, then before your next trip. It allows you to leave on your shoes, lightweight jacket and belt when you go through the checkpoint. Plus, you can leave your electronics and your one-quart-size liquids bag in your carry-on bag instead of removing it at the checkpoint.
• Pay attention to the guidance that the TSA officers are providing at the checkpoint. They may be directing you to a shorter line or guiding you around someone who is moving slowly. And they may be giving you some advice that will lessen the likelihood that you’ll need a pat-down.