Best, Worst MD Thanksgiving Weekend Travel Times In 2021

MARYLAND — Traffic is going to look a lot different in Maryland this Thanksgiving compared with last year, especially if you plan to make the trip by car. It’s also likely to cost you more to get to your destination.

"Many Thanksgiving travelers see COVID in the rearview mirror, and they are looking forward to returning to the pre-pandemic tradition of gathering with family and friends," AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Ragina C. Ali said in a statement.

"Travelers should expect — and plan for — both the roadways and airports to be as busy as ever," Ali said.

About 18 percent of Marylanders plan to travel over the long Thanksgiving weekend, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The agency released its travel forecast Tuesday for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, which it considers to be Wednesday, Nov. 24, to Sunday, Nov. 28.

Of the 1.1 million Marylanders traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, about 92 percent plan to go by car, the auto club reported, based on its poll.

Related: TSA Experts Expect Big Uptick In Thanksgiving Travel Out Of BWI

Maryland's average gas price was $3.41 per gallon as of Monday, Nov. 15, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic, which reports that is $1.29 more than this time a year ago and the highest gas prices have been around this time of year since 2013.

Despite gas costing more, three-quarters of those who are not driving for the holiday said gas did not factor into their decision.

“Historically, higher gas prices have not kept travelers home,” Ali said. “Instead, they adjust their budgets to spend less on other expenses such as meals or lodging."

See Also: 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

Overall, road travel will be up 8 percent in Maryland over last year, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.

It is not the only mode of transportation seeing an uptick for the holiday weekend.

Air travel will increase by over 78 percent compared with 2020, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic, which expects more than 71,000 Marylanders to take to the sky for the Thanksgiving weekend.

Air travel is still down more than 17 percent from 2019 levels in Maryland, according to the agency.

Nationwide, travel by bus or train is expected to increase for the holiday weekend by a staggering 262 percent, according to AAA.

About 12,000 Maryland residents will travel by bus, train or some other mode of transportation over the holiday weekend, according to AAA, which stated that is a jump of more than 260 percent compared with 2020, when group travel was the lowest it has been since the agency began keeping track in 2000.

Even so, bus or train travel is still 44 percent below what it was in 2019, according to AAA.

A poll by AAA Mid-Atlantic found that a little more than 10 percent of Marylanders think Thanksgiving travel will pose a significant risk for COVID-19, which is down from 43 percent before last year's holiday.

As more Americans get vaccinated against COVID-19 and U.S. borders reopen to fully vaccinated international travelers, more than 53.4 million people are expected to travel this Thanksgiving, according to AAA. The national prediction marks a 13 percent increase from 2020.

This year’s AAA travel forecast reflects the highest single-year increase in Thanksgiving travel since 2005, bringing travel volumes close to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

In Maryland, travel is expected to be up by over 12 percent since last year but down more than 7 percent since 2019, which was the second-highest travel volume in Maryland recorded by AAA. The record was in 2005.

Where are people traveling? AAA booking data reveals big cities and tropical destinations are topping travelers’ lists this Thanksgiving.

Travel Times

Whether you plan to travel by plane, train or automobile, those doing so in major urban cities are likely to see increased delays in areas where traffic bottlenecks are already common.

The transportation analytics firm INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the worst congestion heading into the holiday weekend as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers.

Major metro areas across the United States could see more than double the delays versus typical drive times. Drivers in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City are likely to experience more than three times the delays.

AAA offers these travel tips:

• For airport travel, arrive two hours ahead of departure time for domestic flights and three hours ahead for international travel.
• For drivers, give yourself extra time on the road. Pack food and drinks as well as an emergency roadside kit to minimize stops.
• Bring face masks, disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer.
• Check with hotels before your stay to find out about restrictions or closures.

Travel Costs

Travelers are likely to run into some higher prices and other changes from last year. AAA recommends travelers book flights, car rentals, accommodations and other activities as early as possible, as prices are not expected to decrease as the holiday nears.

Traveling by air: The average lowest airfare will cost about $132, about 27.3 percent less than last year.

Hotels: The cost of a night’s stay at mid-range hotels has increased about 39 percent, with average nightly rates ranging between $137 and $172.

Car rentals: Daily car rental rates are averaging about $98, a 4 percent increase over last year.