AAA Experts Tell Us The Best And Worst Times For Holiday Travel

We are all getting ready for the holidays and this year is going to be a doozy. Experts are saying that we are still over-traveling to make up for lost time during COVID. In fact, the volume of travel is expected to be the busiest we've had since the year 2000.

Over 100 million people will be on the roadways so a strategy is in order. According to AAA there are way better times to hit the road than others.

Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX says,

“With pre-pandemic levels of travelers hitting the road this holiday, drivers must be prepared for delays in and around major metro areas, with Tuesday, December 27th expected to be the nation’s worst day to travel.”

Of course, that is because there will be a hybrid of people driving home from their holiday destinations and those who are still commuting for work. The most congested spots in our area are supposed to be:

I-278 West and I-495 from 3:45-5:45 pm. There is expected to be a 112% surge during those times.

According to The Patch, these are the best and worst times to get on the road:

Friday, Dec. 23: worst times 4-7 p.m.; best times before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 24: worst times 12-6 p.m.; best times before 11 a.m., after 7 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 25: minimal traffic expected
Monday, Dec. 26: worst times 2-6 p.m.; best times before noon, after 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 27: worst times 3-7 p.m.; best times before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 28: worst times 3-7 p.m.; best times before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 29: worst times 3-7 p.m.; best times before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 30: worst times 3-7 p.m.; best times before 2 p.m., after 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 31: minimal traffic expected
Sunday, Jan. 1: minimal traffic expected
Monday, Jan. 2: worst times 4-7 p.m.; best times before 3 p.m., after 8 p.m.

Safe travels! You can read more details from The Patch here.

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