Here’s When To Expect Most Thanksgiving Traffic In Chicago

ILLINOIS — There are about 55 million reasons to plan ahead for Thanksgiving travel this year, according to AAA. That’s the number of people expected to travel at least 50 miles between Wednesday, Nov, 22, and Sunday, Nov. 26, including the more than 49 million expected to do so by vehicle.

This year’s Thanksgiving forecast represented an increase of 2.3 percent over last year, AAA said, and marks the third-highest Thanksgiving forecast since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000.

In the Chicago area, travel is expected to peak around 4 p.m. Wednesday on I-94 West, AAA said in a news release Monday. Drivers and passengers ought to expect to spend over two hours in the car that day.

Overall, the busiest day to drive will be Wednesday, Nov. 22, from 2 - 6 p.m. For those looking to reduce their time in traffic, the best time to drive that day will be before 11 a.m.

Here are the best — and worst — overall times to drive, according to AAA.

Thursday, Nov. 23

• Worst: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Best: Before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 24

• Worst: Noon - 4 p.m.
• Best: Before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 25

• Worst: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Best: Before noon

Sunday, Nov. 26

• Worst: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Best: Before noon

Two metro areas can expect to spend about four hours behind the wheel this holiday season: Atlanta and Houston. Meanwhile, Detroit and San Francisco families can expect to spend at least three hours in the car.

“For many Americans, Thanksgiving and travel go hand in hand, and this holiday, we expect more people on the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement Monday. “Travel demand has been strong all year, and AAA’s Thanksgiving forecast reflects that continued desire to get away and spend time with loved ones.”

This year, people are generally paying less for domestic travel compared to last year, and more on international vacations, AAA said. The one notable exception is airplane tickets, which are slightly pricier for domestic flights this season and a bit lower for international flights.

The average price for a domestic flight is $681, according to AAA. That’s up 5 percent from 2022. However, domestic hotel prices are down 12 percent from last year to an average stay of $598.