Thanksgiving Travel: Tips to Dodge the Crowds and Weather Woes

Thanksgiving is coming up, and a lot of people are planning to travel. About 82 million folks are expected to go at least 50 miles from November 25 to December 1. That's a big jump from last year, with 1. 6 million more people on the move. Most will be driving, around 73. 2 million, which is also up from last year. Flying is another option, but it's not looking too great. About 6 million people are expected to take to the skies, a 2% increase from last year. But with recent flight delays and cancellations, some might switch to other ways of getting around. The FAA had to step in and reduce flights, but things are slowly getting back to normal. Still, weather could cause more trouble, especially around the holiday. If you're driving, you might want to avoid Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. That's when the roads will be the busiest, especially in big cities. The best times to hit the road are before noon on Tuesday and 11 a. m. on Wednesday. Coming back? Try to leave before noon, except on Monday. The Sunday after Thanksgiving will be packed, so if you must travel that day, plan for heavy traffic. Weather is always a factor. From Monday to Wednesday, rain is expected to move across the country, from Texas up to Minnesota. But by Thanksgiving Day, things should dry up a bit. It'll be cold, though, especially in the central U. S. The good news is that the weather should be better for those heading home on Friday and Saturday. Just keep an eye out for any weekend storms.