Here is what Thanksgiving travel may look like in NYC this year

You’re almost there: Thanksgiving is just a few days away! Whether you are staying put or traveling to see family and friends by the middle of the week, one thing is for sure: everyone will be collectively celebrating the holiday, which means that traffic patterns will vary starting this Wednesday through the end of the weekend.

As a matter of fact, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that it is expecting over 8.7 million travelers to be using local airports and crossing during the holiday period. 

“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, in an official press release release. “Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that.”

It all begs a few questions: when is traffic going to be worst in the New York area? What is the best day to head out of town …nd the least preferable? What, exactly, can we expect across all modes of transportation in the next few days?

Best and worst times to travel by car from the New York area during Thanksgiving

Let’s start with the good news: the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that all local construction projects will be paused starting at 5am on Wednesday, November 27, through Monday, December 2—that should definitely alleviate some car traffic. 

According to the release, the peak congestion period in the area will hit the most popular route—New York City to the Hamptons via the Long Island Expressway—on Tuesday, November 26, at 4:30pm. With an estimated travel time of three hours and 27 minutes, the trip will likely take you 133% longer than it would typically.

Moral of the story: if you can leave town on Monday, do so—and don’t come back for the next seven days if avoiding car traffic is your one true goal.