Travel
Traveling for Thanksgiving? Watch out for record crowds on the road and in airports
A record number of travelers are expected to hit highways and jam airports during the Thanksgiving holiday.
AAA estimates 79.8 million people will be on the move in the United States during the week beginning Tuesday through Dec. 2, according to spokesperson Tiffany Wright. The number breaks last year’s record of 78.3 million.
About 71.7 million will travel roadways. That is more than pre-pandemic numbers when 70.6 million people drove to Thanksgiving destinations in 2019.
More people on the roadways could lead to more accidents, said South Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway.
“Anytime you have extra vehicles on the road you have less space to move, and you have the possibility of collisions increase,” Ridgeway said. “There are more vehicles on the road, there are more drivers, and unfortunately, drivers do make mistakes creating collisions.”
Ridgeway advises drivers to watch their speed and following distance. “Even if you’re doing everything perfectly, there are sometimes going to be drivers around you that are not doing things perfectly,” he said.
For people traveling during the week of Thanksgiving, the mornings are the best to avoid traffic, Wright said. Afternoons and nights are worst for travel.
| Date | Worst Travel Time | Best Travel Time |
| Mon, Nov. 25 | 1-5 p.m. | Before 11 a.m. |
| Tue, Nov. 26 | 1-7 p.m. | Before 10 a.m. |
| Wed, Nov. 27 | 1–5 p.m. | Before 10 a.m. |
| Thu, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day) | Minimal traffic impact expected | |
| Fri, Nov. 29 | 7– 10 a.m. | After 1 p.m. |
| Sat, Nov. 30 | 4-8 p.m. | Before 1 p.m. |
| Sun, Dec. 1 | 12– 6 p.m. | Before 1 p.m. |
| Mon, Dec. 2 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. | Before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m. |
Ridgeway implores drivers to avoid distraction and keep their eyes on the road.
“We definitely don’t want to cave in the desire to pick up that cell phone while we’re driving. Driving a vehicle is already dangerous, we don’t need to make it more dangerous,” Ridgeway said.
According to Ridgeway, 45 troopers usually patrol Greenville County roadways. He said there will be more than two dozen additional officers assigned to roadways through the Thanksgiving period.
He also said motorists should remember to be responsible when they are consuming alcohol and not drink and drive.
“We have to make sure we’re smart and that we’re planning ahead, using a designated driver, using a rideshare service, or calling a ride if we need to,” Ridgeway said.
Traveling via air
AAA projects 5.84 million people will fly this holiday. That’s an increase of 2% compared to 2023 and a nearly 11% increase over 2019.
Tiffany Cherry, spokesperson for the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, advises travelers to arrive early.
“The normal things like to arrive two hours ahead of your flight. That’s a year-round travel recommendation, but particularly during this season with this as the busiest time of year,” Cherry said.
She also advises people to pre-book parking spots and make sure they follow TSA regulations.
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