Update as of Monday, Nov. 13, at 11:35 a.m.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — AAA expects 3 million people in the state to travel for Thanksgiving in 2023– the most in nearly two decades.
“We’re anticipating about 87,000 more Floridians to be traveling than last year’s Thanksgiving holiday and that doesn’t even include all the travelers who are coming in from out-of-state,” AAA Spokesperson Mark Jenkins said.
Jenkins said 91% of those travelers will be hitting the road.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after are typically the busiest.
Traffic could back you up but if you leave early in the morning or later in the evening, you could get ahead of the rush.
As for the airport, more than 200,000 people in the state are expected to fly over Thanksgiving which is the most since 2019.
Pack in some extra time to find a parking spot and possibly wait in longer security lines.
AAA anticipates the Wednesday ahead of Thanksgiving and the Sunday and Monday after to be busiest air travel days.
The American Automobile Association expects to get 360,000 calls across Florida due to car trouble. Make sure you check your tires brakes and all other car essentials before you leave.
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A previous version of this story can be found below:
If you’re one of the 55 million people traveling this Thanksgiving, you’re going to want to head out the door earlier than normal.
This year is expected to be one of the busiest travel seasons we’ve seen since before the pandemic.
AAA will release numbers for the Tampa area’s travel expectations at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 13.
Based on national numbers already released, we’re expecting the roads and the skies to be more congested than in recent years.
AAA predicts nearly 5 million people will fly to their Thanksgiving destination– the most in almost 20 years.
The Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday are typically the busiest days at the airport, so if you’re flying then make time for parking and longer lines. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is also usually a busy day for travel.
Tampa International Airport anticipates 80,000 passengers each day between Thursday, Nov. 16, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
AAA anticipates the most holiday traffic on the roads. 49 million people across the United States are expected to drive more than 50 miles from home. Next Wednesday is the most popular day to leave.
You’ll want to consider these numbers when planning for your travel.
