Busy Thanksgiving travel season expected in US, North Dakota; gas cheaper than last year
Full flights, long lines and mashed potatoes are some of what the millions of Americans who will travel by air for Thanksgiving this week could encounter during what is predicted to be a record-breaking Thanksgiving travel period.
Those departing from the Bismarck Airport can expect to see much of the same, including more fellow travelers than last year, according to Matthew Remynse, the airport's marketing and operations manager.
"Arrive early. More people are going to be traveling, so lines are going to be longer; you might not be able to get the good spot in the parking lot, so you might have to walk a little bit ... be patient, delays do happen," he said.
Remynse also recommends passengers download the mobile phone app for the airline they are traveling with so they can stay up to date with flight details. For travelers hoping to bring home some leftovers, Remynse advises checking the Transportation Security Administration's guidelines for what foods can be taken on a flight and what needs to be put into a checked bag.
"If you're unsure of something, check," he said.
AAA predicts 55.4 million Americans will travel distances greater than 50 miles for Thanksgiving this year, a 2.3% increase from 2022.
It would be the third-highest year for Thanksgiving travel since the auto club organization began tracking the metric in 2000, according to Gene LaDoucer, director of public affairs for AAA Heartland Region.
"People found during that pandemic that sitting home during the holidays is not something they like to do, so now they're taking every advantage they can to get together with family and friends," he said.
Around one out of every five people in North Dakota's AAA region expected to travel this Thanksgiving, which is about 3% higher than the national average.
Most who travel this week will drive, and in 2023, drivers can expect to keep a little bit more cash in their pockets, LaDoucer said. Gas prices have been up and down this year, but they've fallen in recent weeks.
Nationwide, gas prices are about 30 cents cheaper than they were at this point last year, sitting at $3.29 on Tuesday. Prices are even cheaper in North Dakota, with a statewide average of $3.20, down 35 cents from last year. Burleigh County prices were at $3.31 on Tuesday.
Accuweather's Thanksgiving travel outlook lists good weather conditions in North Dakota and across much of the country on Wednesday. Fair-to-poor travel conditions can be expected for the Northeast due to storms expected Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thanksgiving Day looks to be mostly dry across the country, but a storm in the Rocky Mountains and Central Plains will make for a wetter end to the week and possibly disrupt some travel, according to Accuweather. A dip in temperature is expected in much of North Dakota later this week as well.
For those who drive, LaDoucer recommends hitting the road early, especially when traveling on Wednesday and Sunday, the two busiest days expected for road travel this week.
If driving needs to wait until later in the day, LaDoucer said to take off some time after 6 p.m. to avoid rush hour traffic.
Gas prices should trend lower heading into the rest of the holiday season, according to LaDoucer.
But even with the expected cheaper gas in the coming months, prospective travelers should still make their plans as early as possible if they have not yet since hotels, flights and entertainment venues are likely to get booked up soon, he added.
"They should get to it; we expect this strong travel season to continue through the year," he said.
Reach Joey Harris at 701-250-8252 or .
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