With Thanksgiving fast approaching, AAA is predicting what may be the busiest travel period yet this year.
The travel group is projecting 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles between Tuesday and the end of the holiday weekend, an increase of 1.6 million compared to last year.
AAA predicts at least 73 million people will travel by car, or about 90 percent of all travelers. That number could be higher if some air travelers decided to drive following recent series of flight cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration earlier this week lifted flight restrictions imposed on 40 of the nation’s busiest airports, including Logan International Airport in Boston.
Congestion on the roads is expected to peak Tuesday afternoon through the early evening, and again Wednesday between mid-morning and late afternoon, according to AAA.
Road travel on the holiday itself should be light, except for those traveling from Boston along Route 3 south toward Cape Cod, which will see peak congestion late Thursday morning, the agency said.
Return trips will also bring headaches. Friday, Nov. 28, through Monday, Dec. 1, are all expected to be peak times for travel, according to AAA.
AAA said drivers are paying about the same at the gas pump as last year, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.06 on Thanksgiving Day.
Some travelers will avoid the gridlock by taking to the air. AAA estimates roughly 6 million Americans will fly domestically during the holiday period, a 2 percent increase from 2024.
Roundtrip flights are averaging about $700 — similar to last year — but flights on Thanksgiving day are less expensive, according to AAA. The group said Sunday and Monday will be the busiest return days.
AAA recommends drivers hit the road early in the morning to avoid the afternoon rush on Tuesday and Wednesday. Starting the drive home early on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, or delaying your return until after 8 p.m. on Monday, could save hours on the road, too.
Nick Stoico can be reached at nick.stoico@globe.com.
