Thanksgiving Travel Forecast 2022: Best Time To Travel In NJ

NEW JERSEY — If you’re among the estimated 54.6 million Thanksgiving travelers this year, timing your departure from New Jersey can make the trip less stressful.

The auto club AAA said in its Thanksgiving travel prediction released Tuesday that nearly 49 million Americans will travel by car during the long weekend, which for travel purposes is Wednesday-Sunday, Nov. 23-27. Thanksgiving Day is on Nov. 24.

AAA’s data partner INRIX expects severe congestion in U.S. metro areas — especially around Atlanta, Chicago, New York City and Los Angeles — with some drivers experiencing more than double the amount of time stuck in traffic during peak travel times. Other busy metros are Boston, Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Here are the potential trouble spots in the New York metro area, which stretches into New Jersey, according to AAA:

• Interstate 278 South from J35 to J22
• Interstate 495 East from J13 to J32
• Belt Parkway West from J17 to J3
• Belt Parkway East from J3 to J17
• I-495 West from J44 to J16

Wednesday will be the worst travel time on the aforementioned routes, AAA projects.

AAA didn't include the Philadelphia metro area in this year's Thanksgiving travel forecast. But in past years, the auto club included the following corridors:

• I-295 S @ I-76/Exit 26 (Camden County, New Jersey)
• I-76 E @ Belmont Avenue/Exit 338 (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania)
• I-76 W @ PA-320.Gulph Road/Exit 330 (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania)
• I-76 W @ Montgomery Drive/Exit 341 (Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania)
• I-95 S @ US-322/Exit 2/Exit 3 (Delaware County, Pennsylvania)
• I-476 N @ US-1/Exit 5 (Delaware County, Pennsylvania)
• PA-309 S @ Stump Road (Montgomery County, Pennsylvania)
• US-202 N @ US-1/Baltimore Pike (Delaware County, Pennsylvania)
• I-95 N @ Aramingo Avenue/Richmond Street (Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania)
• I-476 S @ I-95 (Delaware County, Pennsylvania)

To avoid the most hectic times, AAA recommends traveling early in the morning on Wednesday or before 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Avoid traveling between 4-8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. In general, the best and worst times to be on the road are:

• Wednesday, Nov. 23 — worst times, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; best times, before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov 24 — worst times, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; best times, before 11 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 25 — worst times, 4-8 p.m.; best times, before 11 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 26 — worst times, 4-8 pm.; best times, before 2 p.m. and after 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 27 — worst times, 4-8 p.m.; best times, before 11 a.m. and after 8 p.m.

This year is expected to be the third-busiest for Thanksgiving travel, approaching 98 percent of pre-pandemic levels, since AAA began tracking it in 2000.

Although most will travel by car, about 4.5 million Americans plan to fly to their Thanksgiving destinations, an increase of 8 percent — 333,000 more travelers — from last year. Thanksgiving air travel is expected to be within 99 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

It’s a good idea to leave for the airport early. Long lines are likely at TSA checkpoints and, "if possible, avoid checking a bag to allow for more flexibility if flights are delayed, or you need to reschedule," AAA said.

The number of people who are traveling by bus or train or taking a cruise is up by 23 percent from last year, reaching 96 percent of the 2019 volume.

If you're flying or taking public transit, keep health considerations in mind. The CDC recommends that people 2 and older wear a high-quality mask or respirator on public transit and in transportation hubs, such as airports. But a federal judge threw out the Biden administration's mask mandate in such locations last April.