Thanksgiving Travel Forecast 2023: Best Times To Hit The Road In CA

TEMECULA, CA — Thanksgiving week has arrived along with its traditional holiday traffic. During this busy travel time, Californians should pack their patience whether they are traveling on planes, trains, or automobiles.

Most drivers will head at least 50 miles away from home between Wednesday and Sunday, according to the 2023 AAA Thanksgiving Travel Forecast report. This year will see the third-highest number of holiday travelers over the Thanksgiving holiday since 2000.

In Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego counties, traffic is expected to peak Wednesday at 11:15 a.m., and drivers can expect trips to take as much as two hours longer than usual that day.

However, it won't be as painful to fill up if you're driving, according to www.GasBuddy.com and AAA. Gas prices across California and nationwide have fallen of late.

"Drivers this Thanksgiving can expect cheaper gas prices," said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. "Ten states now have sub $3 a gallon averages, and more will join soon."

Roughly 48.13 million cars will be on freeways nationwide this week. By comparison, 4.7 million travelers will head to the airports, and 1.55 million more will seek other modes of transportation, such as trains and cruises, which have returned to pre-pandemic numbers, according to the AAA.

"The cruise industry, in particular, has made a remarkable comeback," Twidale said. "Thanksgiving cruises are mostly sold out, with many travelers looking to spend the holiday at sea."

What are the best and worst times to drive this week?

This year, in California, the weather won't play much of a factor in travel across the Golden State, with sunny and mild days forecast through Sunday.

According to the AAA, here are the best and worst times to be out on the freeways in major metro areas:

Thursday, Nov. 23

• Worst: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Best: Before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 24

• Worst: Noon - 4 p.m.
• Best: Before 11 a.m. or after 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 25

• Worst: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Best: Before noon

Sunday, Nov. 26

• Worst: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Best: Before noon

Transportation analyst Bob Pishue shared his thoughts for travelers after years of holiday travel data study.

"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," Pishue said. "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."

For flyers, if you plan on buying last-minute plane tickets, you may be out of luck from sold-out flights to exorbitant prices.

Airplane tickets for domestic travel are slightly pricier for domestic flights this holiday season and a bit lower for international flights.

According to the AAA, the average price for a domestic cross-country flight is $681. That's up 5 percent from 2022.

However, domestic hotel prices are down 12 percent from last year to an average stay of $598.

"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," AAA spokesperson Pamela Twidale said. "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."