ST. GEORGE — Travel for the Thanksgiving holiday is returning to near pre-pandemic levels, according to recent predictions released by AAA.
Up to 54.6 million people are expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year, which is an increase of 1.5% over 2021 and a 98% return to pre-pandemic volumes.
According to AAA, it is anticipated to be the third busiest Thanksgiving travel period since it started tracking in 2000. Those other years were 2005 and 2019.
Nearly 49 million people are expected to travel by car, while 4.5 million will fly to their holiday destinations. The flight numbers represent a projected 8% increase over 2021.
“Families and friends are eager to spend time together this Thanksgiving, one of the busiest for travel in the past two decades,” Paula Twidale, AAA’s senior vice president of travel, said in a press release. “Plan ahead and pack your patience, whether you’re driving or flying.”
Americans are also ramping up travel by other modes of transportation, according to AAA. More than 1.4 million travelers are going out of town for Thanksgiving by bus, train or cruise ship. That’s an increase of 23% from 2021 and 96% of the 2019 volume.
“With travel restrictions lifted and more people comfortable taking public transportation again, it’s no surprise buses, trains and cruises are coming back in a big way,” Twidale said. “Regardless of the mode of transportation you have chosen, expect crowds during your trip and at your destination. If your schedule is flexible, consider off-peak travel times during the holiday rush.”
AAA Thanksgiving travel tips
- Airport parking lots fill up fast. Reserve a spot ahead of time.
- Expect long TSA lines and consider not checking a bag for additional flexibility if flights are delayed or rescheduled.
- Road traffic peaks the Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving. Travel during off-peak periods (before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m.), if possible.
- Be prepared. Make sure you and your vehicle are road trip ready. AAA expects to help over 400,000 members over the holiday weekend. Check out AAA Utah’s Stress Less Checklist to prepare.
- Gas prices are nearly $0.36 cents more per gallon than last year. Find the lowest gas prices on your travel route with the AAA Mobile App.
Peak travel times and advisories
The AAA, along with the Arizona and Utah departments of transportation, are predicting holiday travel to be heavy on the Wednesday (Nov. 23) before Thanksgiving and the following Sunday (Nov. 27) as people return home.
Here are the best and worst travel times as determined by AAA:
| Date | Worst time | Best time |
| 11/23/22 | 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. |
Before 8 a.m., After 6 p.m. |
| 11/24/22 (Thanksgiving Day) | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. |
Before 11 a.m., After 6 p.m. |
| 11/25/22 | 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. |
Before 11 a.m., After 8 p.m. |
| 11/26/22 | 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. |
Before 2 p.m., After 8 p.m. |
| 11/27/22 | 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. |
Before 2 p.m., After 8 p.m. |
In Utah, UDOT anticipates traffic impacts taking place on Interstate 15 north of Cedar City and along the Wasatch Front.
On Wednesday, the following delays on may be expected at the following locations:
- Northbound I-15 in Davis County: up to 10-minute delays from 3-7 p.m.
- Southbound I-15 in Salt Lake County: up to 15-minute delays from 3-7 p.m.
- Southbound I-15 near Nephi: up to 10-minute delays from 5-8 p.m.
Delays of up to 20 minutes should be expected near Cedar City on northbound I-15 on Sunday from noon-7 p.m.
UDOT construction projects across Utah will be suspended Wednesday through the following Sunday in order to ease some of the holiday traffic congestion.
Kevin Kitchen, a spokesman for, UDOT, told St. George News that road work residents of Southern Utah may find more relevant is taking place at the I-15 interchange with Interstate 70 by Cove Fort. I-70 is reduced to one lane in each direction between the Cove Fort exit and I-15. Crews are replacing the driving surface and barrier walls on the I-70 bridge over I-15 through the fall.
On southbound I-15 through Arizona, ADOT is also suspending roadwork Wednesday through Sunday, which includes work being done on Bridge No. 1 through the Beaver Dam/Littlefield area at milepost 8-9.
Motorists can expect a measure of delay while passing through this area as it is limited to a single lane in both directions due to roadwork.
Due to anticipated heavier traffic conditions during peak travel times including Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, ADOT recommends that drivers allow extra time if possible and be prepared for unscheduled closures or lane restrictions due to crashes, disabled vehicles or other incidents.
Packing an emergency kit can come in handy in case you encounter an unscheduled stop in traffic or need to pull over because of car troubles. Items to pack include:
- Extra bottled water
- Snack foods
- A flashlight and extra batteries
- Blankets
- Warm clothing
- First aid kit
“Drivers are encouraged to be patient, since they will be sharing the road. There’s no sense in being an aggressive driver. That is a recipe for tragedy,” ADOT spokesman Doug Nintzel said. “We want everyone to get home safely, but drivers hold the key to highway safety as we enter the holiday travel season.”
St. George News reporter Nick Yamashita contributed to this story.
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