Thanksgiving Travel Rush Begins In Washington: What To Know

SEATTLE, WA — According to AAA, more than 1.3 million Washingtonians have Thanksgiving trips planned this year. INRIX, a transportation data company, estimates the worst time for drivers on the road will be Wednesday between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Southbound drivers leaving Bellevue on Interstate 405 could see the worst of it, with travel times nearly 3.5 times the average. Northbound I-405 is close behind, with delays expected to be 2.5 times longer. Another chokepoint will be southbound Interstate 5 from Seattle, with delays 1.8 times the average, and northbound delays 1.7 times longer.

In Pierce County, WSDOT projects heavy northbound congestion on Interstate 5, between Lacey and Tacoma, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m Wednesday. Southbound travel will be even slower, with congestion expected from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. WSDOT said travelers will have an easier shot on Thanksgiving Day, apart from some southbound delays early on.

View WSDOT travel charts for your route.

On Interstate 90, over Snoqualmie Pass, the toughest days for eastbound travel will be Wednesday and Sunday, Dec. 1. Westbound congestion will peak Saturday and Sunday afternoon. A slight chance of snow is in the forecast over the mountains Wednesday, but conditions should clear late in the day and stay sunny through the weekend.

Wednesday is also the busiest day of the travel week at Sea-Tac Airport. The Port of Seattle expects more than 1 million people will pass through by week's end, and 163,500 passengers will visit the airport on Wednesday alone. The second busiest day will be Sunday, Dec. 1.

Peak Congestion Times
Departures:
4:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Arrivals:
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
8:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

Holiday Travel Tips from Sea-Tac

• To circumvent peak congestion times, drop off passengers on the Arrivals level during morning travel hours. During evenings, meet passengers on the Departures level.
• Download the airport's updated app to see the latest wait times and get a jump on planning using the interactive map.
• Check the City of SeaTac website for any planned road work that may require a detour or additional time.
• Arrive two hours early for domestic flights, and three hours earlier for international travel.
• Review TSA security protocol to prevent delays at checkpoints.

View more holiday travel hacks on the airport's Traveler Tips website.

Washington State Ferries

• 350,000 people are expected to ride Washington State Ferries between Wednesday and Sunday.
• According to WSDOT, the longest lines for westbound trips are expected in the afternoon and evening before Thanksgiving and on Thanksgiving morning. Eastbound travelers will see the longest lines Thanksgiving afternoon and Friday morning.
• Ferry passengers are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance online.
• Travelers can sign up for wait-time alerts or check terminal conditions on the Washington State Ferries website.
• Some routes will run on a modified schedule during the holiday.
• Travelers with questions can call 888-808-7977.

Train Travel

• Those planning to travel on the Amtrak Cascades line should plan to arrive at the station one hour before departure.
• There are no extra Thanksgiving trains this year.
• All Amtrak trips require reservations and trains tend to fill up quickly around the holidays.
• Link trains in Seattle will run on a Sunday schedule during Thanksgiving and a Saturday schedule on Black Friday.
• The Tacoma Link will run on a Sunday schedule during Thanksgiving and a regular schedule on Black Friday.
• Sounder commuter trains will not run on Thanksgiving Day.
• On Black Friday, Sounder trains will run on a modified schedule to accomodate shoppers.

Related Coverage

Sea-Tac Braces For 1 Million Travelers Over Thanksgiving Week

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