AAA projects 54.3 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving, a 4.8 percent increase over last year. The 2018 holiday weekend will see the highest Thanksgiving travel volume in more than a dozen years (since 2005), with 2.5 million more people taking to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways compared with last year.

For the 48.5 million Americans planning a Thanksgiving road trip, INRIX, a global mobility analytics company, predicts travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. could see much heavier than normal congestion.

“The thriving economy is giving travelers a lot to be thankful for this year,” says Jim Lehman, president of AAA East Central. “Two-and-a-half million more Americans will have the chance this year to create new lasting memories with their families and friends, which is very exciting to see.”

The Thanksgiving holiday period is defined as Wednesday to Sunday.

Beware of congestion

Based on historical and recent travel trends, INRIX and AAA predict drivers will experience the greatest amount of congestion nationwide Thanksgiving week during the early evening commute period, with travel times starting to increase on Monday.

In most cases, the best days to travel will be on Thanksgiving Day, Friday or Saturday. Drivers should expect increased travel times on Sunday as most holiday travelers will be making their way home after the long weekend.

Higher gas prices

Motorists can expect to pay the highest Thanksgiving gas prices in four years, with a national average of $2.624 as of Nov. 19, 8 cents more than a year ago.

Best times to fly

An analysis of AAA’s national flight booking data from the past three years revealed that the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving are usually the most popular air travel days across the country and have the highest average price per round trip ticket. Meanwhile, Thanksgiving Day consistently has the lowest average price per ticket and is the lightest travel day. Travelers looking to save money this holiday season can fly the morning of the holiday and arrive just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

Car rental costs fall

Travelers can expect to save on car rentals this Thanksgiving holiday season. At $63, the national average daily rate is 10 percent less than last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. Travelers can also save on AAA Three Diamond hotels, with an average nightly rate of $166, a decline of six percent compared to last year. Conversely, the average rate for AAA Two Diamond hotels has increased six percent with an average nightly cost of $124.

AAA to the rescue

AAA expects to rescue nearly 360,000 motorists at the roadside this Thanksgiving. Dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires will be the leading reasons AAA members will experience car trouble. AAA recommends motorists take their vehicle to a trusted repair facility to perform any needed maintenance before heading out. Oil changes, fluid level checks, battery tests and tire inspections go a long way toward reducing the chances of a breakdown.

Turnpike busy too

While there may be no place like home for the holidays, if you are traveling by car, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is projecting that 3.7 million cars and trucks will travel the turnpike during the six-day period, beginning Tuesday and ending Sunday.

“Even though Pennsylvania has already experienced its first winter storm, it’s Thanksgiving that marks the official beginning of the winter holiday travel season,” said Mark Compton, PTC CEO. “As we have already seen this week, hazardous and changing weather conditions can lead to a spike in auto accidents. When you factor in the additional traffic on the roadways during the week ahead, the risk is even higher. Driving safely and having a well-maintained vehicle is more important than ever this time of year.”

The periods of heaviest traffic volumes will be:

• Tuesday, from 3 until 8 p.m.

• Wednesday, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Sunday, from noon until 8 p.m.

• Thursday will be the least traveled day with 535,000 motorists on the road, followed by Friday, with 550,000 motorists.