NJ Thanksgiving Travel 2018: Expect Lots Of Company, Cold Temps

If you're planning to hit the road for the Thanksgiving holiday, expect more company, lower gas prices, and be sure you bundle up.

Nearly 1.4 million New Jersey residents are expected to be traveling 50 miles or more for the Thanksgiving holiday, an increase of more than 5 percent over 2017, matching a national trend of increasing travel, according to AAA, the national travel organization.

"Across the country, and in New Jersey, Thanksgiving weekend 2018 is expected to be the busiest for the holiday since 2005," said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "A strong economy and labor market are generating rising incomes, driving up the confidence in consumers who are more willing to spend on travel this year."

AAA is forecasting that more than 54 million Americans will be traveling for the holiday, with the vast majority driving to their destinations. The number of New Jersey travelers is expected to be up 5.2 percent from those who traveled for Thanksgiving 2017. Nationally, the number is up 4.8 percent over 2017. The Thanksgiving holiday period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 25.

That is sparked in part by declining gasoline prices, even though they are still the highest they have been in four years, according to AAA. New Jersey's average gas price as of Monday, Nov. 19, was $2.63, 7 cents higher than it was in 2017, when the average on Nov. 19 was $2.56 per gallon. New Jersey's average is a penny higher than the national average, thanks in part to the 2016 law that ties the gasoline tax to revenue shortfalls in the Transportation Trust Fund.

Within New Jersey, drivers in Morris and Essex counties are paying the most, at $2.76 per gallon, while Atlantic County drivers are paying $2.55 per gallon, according to AAA.

The average gas price in New Jersey was $2.56 in 2017; 2016, $2.21; 2015, $1.95; 2014, $2.70, and in 2013, $3.26.

Nearby, gas prices in Pennsylvania ($2.81), New York ($2.87) and Connecticut ($2.88) are down from a year ago in those states. Those headed south will find lower gas prices, with Delaware ($2.28), Maryland ($2.47) and Virginia ($2.39) all going easier on the wallet, according to AAA.

If you're traveling and are searching for the lowest gas prices, gasbuddy.com provides localized prices online.

The other good news for travelers is the weather is expected to be cooperative for those who are east of the Rockies, with no major storms forecast into Thanksgiving Day, according to weather.com. Those heading to the West Coast could encounter some storms and those traveling on Saturday in particular will encounter rain across much of the East, with the rain clearing off for most of the East on Sunday.

You will need warm coats, hats and gloves on Thanksgiving, however, as temperatures are expected to get bitterly cold in the Northeast, with highs that remain below freezing.

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Regardless of how travelers plan to get to their destinations, they should expect to see far more company across the board. Airports are expected to be exceptionally busy, Noble said.

"With more money in their pockets, consumers are willing to spend on air travel this year, which tends to be the more expensive mode of travel," Noble said, adding there has been a strong uptick in air travel projections.

Those planning to fly should be at the airport not less than two hours before their scheduled flight as a result, she said. In New Jersey, more than 119,500 residents are projected to be flying, part of 4.27 million traveling by air nationally.

The vast majority of travelers will be driving, however. Based on historical and recent travel trends, INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the greatest amount of congestion Thanksgiving week during the early evening commute, including Tuesday evening.

"Thanksgiving is one of the busiest holidays for road trips, and this year will be no different," Noble said. "Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic. Our advice to drivers is to avoid commuting times in major cities altogether or plan alternative routes."

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 holiday travelers head home after the long weekend.

If you're driving, law enforcement across New Jersey is reminding motorists not to drink and drive. Police in a number of towns have reminded drivers that they are beefing up their enforcement for the holiday weekend, and will be on the lookout for impaired drivers beginning Wednesday. New Jersey State Police announced they will have a DWI checkpoint in Monmouth County, and some towns have issued reminders as well.

Photo by Ashley Ludwig/Patch