Flying or driving this Thanksgiving? Prepare for crowds, have a backup plan

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Prepare for crowds, plan for parking, pack your patience – it’s gonna be a busy week of travel, both in Cleveland and across the country.

AAA is projecting that 55.4 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, the third highest number since the agency started tracking holiday travel in 2000. Only 2005 and 2019 had more.

In Cleveland, airport officials are expecting 150,000 travelers to pass through Cleveland Hopkins International Airport from Wednesday through Sunday – 18% higher than last year and 8% more than in 2019, before the COVID pandemic upended the travel industry.

What that means if you’re going to be one of them: Leave early, pack wisely, expect crowded highways and terminals, and have a backup plan in case of delays or cancellations.

“For many Americans, Thanksgiving and travel go hand in hand, and this holiday, we expect more people on the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022,” said Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel. “Travel demand has been strong all year, and AAA’s Thanksgiving forecast reflects that continued desire to get away and spend time with loved ones.”

According to AAA, the busiest day on the roads will be Wednesday.

The Transportation Security Administration, meanwhile, said the busiest day for air travelers will be Sunday, followed by Wednesday and Tuesday.

“We expect this holiday season to be our busiest ever,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoski. “In 2023, we have already seen seven of the top 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history. We are ready for the anticipated volumes and are working closely with our airline and airport partners to make sure we are prepared for this busy holiday travel season.”

Pekoske noted that the agency will try to maintain checkpoint wait times at under 10 minutes for TSA PreCheck travelers and under 30 minutes for standard lanes.

Even so, airport officials advise travelers to get to the airport two hours ahead of their flights.

According to Hopkins officials, the busiest times for TSA in Cleveland are early morning, from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., and then from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Travelers can check security wait times before heading to the airport at clevelandairport.com .

Travelers also can check on parking availability at the same site.

There’s good news for those who have experienced parking woes at Cleveland Hopkins in the past: The Smart Garage, under construction for much of the past year, reopened last month, with more than 4,000 spaces available.

Read more: Cleveland Hopkins airport reopens Smart Parking Garage in time for holiday rush

A check on parking availability on Monday afternoon found open spots at the garage, Blue, Orange and Brown lots.

And a reminder: There are several privately owned airport parking lots on nearby Snow Road, which accept advanced reservations and offer easy shuttle service to the terminal (among the options: Park Place, Fast Park and Park ‘N Fly).

One variable travelers can’t control, however, is the weather, which can disrupt even the best made plans.

After a rainy Tuesday, the forecast for Northeast Ohio calls for a relatively mild long holiday weekend, with a low chance of precipitation and temperatures in the mid 40s to 50, according to the National Weather Service.

Across the U.S., a storm system expected to move from the southern Plains to the Northeast through Wednesday could bring some disruption as travelers are trying to get to their destinations, according to the agency. The forecast looks quieter for the trip home at the end of the weekend.

If your flight is delayed or canceled, experts recommend that you move quickly to find an alternative – don’t wait for the airline to find one for you. And it never hurts to anticipate problems and devise a backup plan (or two) even before you set out.

Speaking of setting out: If you’re planning on driving, experts recommend that you plan to leave early or late.

According to INRIX, a transportation data firm, average travel times could be as much as 80% above normal in some metro areas.

“The day before Thanksgiving is notoriously one of the most congested days on our roadways. Travelers should be prepared for long delays, especially in and around major metros,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “Knowing when and where congestion will build can help minimize holiday traffic frustrations. We advise drivers to use traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services for real-time updates.”

Meanwhile, AAA said it expects to rescue more than 360,000 Americans at the roadside this Thanksgiving.

The agency offers these tips on the best times to travel:

Wednesday, best before 11 a.m., worst from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

, best before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m., worst from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

, best before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m., worst from noon to 4 p.m.

Saturday, best before noon, worst from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

, best before noon, worst from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

AAA has also tracked the prices of holiday travel in 2023:

* Gas prices last week in Northeast Ohio were $3.22 per gallon, down from $3.72 a year earlier.

* The average price for a domestic flight at Thanksgiving is $681, up 5% from a year ago.

* The average price for a domestic, multi-night hotel stay is $598, down 12% from a year ago.

* And the average price for a weekly domestic rental car reservation this week is $590, down 20% from a year ago.