BAY RIDGE, Brooklyn (PIX11) -- Be prepared for major traffic on the roads this Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
A record number of people will be traveling more than 50 miles for that taste of turkey with family and friends.
A record 79.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel, according to AAA, which now includes the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving day.
That’s up from 1.7 million last year and 2 million more than in pre-pandemic 2019.
Around 71.7 million people are traveling by car compared to just 5.84 million by air.
"It’s the economy,” Robert Sinclair, AAA Senior Manager, Public Affairs, told PIX11 News. “Fewer people are unemployed, people are working and the economy is getting better,” he added.
Gas prices are encouraging people to drive this Thanksgiving holiday.
The average price in New York City, according to AAA, is $3.10 a gallon, $3.00 a gallon in Long Island, and $2.98 in New Jersey, a big drop compared to last year.
“It’s gone up a couple of cents in the last week,” Sinclair told PIX11 News. “But 38 to 58 cents less a gallon compared to last year, making it attractive for anyone to drive,” he added.
And since so many people are hitting the roads this coming holiday, here’s some advice from AAA on the best times to begin the journey:
“Before 10 am on Tuesday and Wednesday, any time on Thursday, which is Thanksgiving, and before 1 p.m. on Sunday,” Sinclair said.
Joe Russo, a Bay Ridge driver told PIX11 News: “I’m leaving at 5 o’clock in the morning on Tuesday to drive to Brewster to beat the traffic.”
