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It’s Turkey Time! AAA Expects Over 1.36 Million Virginians to Hit the Road in Celebration

Fall Leaves

 

VIRINIA BEACH, Va. (November 21, 2019) – AAA Tidewater projects more than 1.3 million Virginians will be hitting the road for the Thanksgiving celebration, a 2.7 percent increase from last year. This marks the second highest recorded number of travelers for the Commonwealth.  For those millions hitting the road, AAA warns that travel times will be longest on Wednesday the 27th in the afternoon.  Commuters will be heading home as travelers are leaving for vacation making for a slow departure. AAA has the following advice:

  • Avoid rush hour when the commute is already congested. Leave mid-day or in the evening. 
  • Check the route you are planning to take to avoid potential construction or work zone slowdowns.
  • Check the weather forecasts along your planned route – so you are prepared for conditions.
  • Make sure you are well rested.
  • Share the driving duties with other passengers.
  • Always Buckle Your Seat Belt and put children under 8 in appropriate child safety restraints.
  • AAA advises - Don’t Drive Intoxicated. Don’t Drive InTEXTicated. Keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the road, and your mind on your driving.

  “This Thanksgiving weekend more people will travel to spend time with friends and family this year,” said Georjeane Blumling, Vice President of Public Affairs for AAA Tidewater Virginia. “A strong economy and labor market are generating rising incomes and higher consumer confidence, fueling a strong year for the travel industry, which will continue into the holiday season.”

Virginia’s 2019 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast Highlights

  • Road trip ready: 90.9 percent of all travelers are planning a Thanksgiving road trip, an increase of 2.7 percent over last year.
  • Fuller skies: The largest growth in holiday travel will be air travel with a 4 percent increase expected.
  • Alternate travel: Travel by trains and other modes (including buses and cruises) are expected to increase slightly by 0.9 percent.
  • Fueling up: Drivers will pay slightly lower gas prices over the Thanksgiving holiday than last year.

 

Gas Prices as of November 21, 2019

 

Current

 

Last Week

 

Last Month

 

Last Year

National

$2.59

$2.61

$2.65

$2.60

Virginia

$2.30

$2.31

$2.32

$2.38

Hampton Roads

$2.24

$2.25

$2.25

$2.29

 

As part of North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA Tidewater Virginia provides its more than 330,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding AAA Tidewater Virginia has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. For more information, visit AAA.com and follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/AAATidewaterVA or Facebook at facebook.com/AAATidewaterVirginia.

CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Tidewater Automobile Association of Virginia, Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
AAA Tidewater Virginia is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the Tidewater Virginia region (All Hampton Roads cities, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg; Virginia's Eastern Shore; as well as the following counties: Greensville, Surry, Brunswick, Isle of Wight, Gloucester, Lancaster, Middlesex, Richmond County, Southampton, Sussex, Mecklenburg, James City County, York, Lunenburg, Essex, King & Queen, Mathews, Northumberland, and Westmoreland).