More Marylanders Traveling this Thanksgiving

Travel is up, and so are gas prices as the Thanksgiving holiday draws near.

According to AAA Mid-Atlantic, nearly 850,000 Marylanders are expected to travel between November 24 and 28 – an 11.8 percent jump compared to 2009 – taking a trip at least 50 miles away from their homes.

National estimates also show an 11.4 percent increase in travelers this holiday, with about 42.2 million people taking a trip.

Automobiles are the predominant mode of transportation around Thanksgiving, said Ragina Averella, spokeswoman for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

"Typically, the vast majority of Thanksgiving travelers drive to their holiday destinations, and this year, it seems as though that trend is even more apparent," she said.

About 95 percent of Maryland travelers, or 811,000 people, are projected to drive this holiday, despite the higher cost of gas. As of Friday, the state's average gas price was $2.87 – 26 cents higher than last year.  Marylanders seem to be in a better financial position this holiday and as a result are more confident to travel, Averella said.

Area airports are also expecting to see an increase in passenger traffic this Thanksgiving.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport has seen consistent growth since spring, said Jonathan Dean, Maryland Aviation Administration spokesman.

"All time passenger records were set at BWI Marshall during this past summer," he said. "We expect to see an increase in passenger traffic for the Thanksgiving holiday period, and growth should continue in the near term."

Several airlines have also added flights specifically for the Thanksgiving holiday, Dean said. As of Tuesday, he did not have a holiday passenger estimate.

Washington Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National airports expect 1.1 million passengers between November 19 and 29. Last year, the airports estimated about 1 million, said Courtney Prebich Mickalonis, spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Given the increase, airport spokespeople recommend passengers arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.

As always, weather can have a serious effect on travel and traffic conditions, said David Buck, spokesman for the State Highway Administration.

"Have more than one route," Buck advised.

Printed maps can come in handy when global positioning systems fail, he said. Drivers should also watch overhead travel signs on major thoroughfares like 95, 695 and 83 for tips and warnings.

To prepare for the increase in road traffic, the State Highway Administration will suspend all construction activity on state roads Wednesday through Sunday. It will also double the number of emergency roadside assistance crews available.

"It's all hands on deck," Buck said. "The quicker we can find out about something, the quicker we can respond to it."

Chosen travel days can also make a significant impact on road traffic, Averella said.

 "Typically, the majority of people tend to leave on Wednesday for Thanksgiving travel, and that is usually when the roads are most congested," she said. "You will be less likely to encounter significant congestion if you leave on Thursday morning."

Transportation leaders offered the following tips:

Roads

• Check tires pressures and tread depth.
• Replace wiper blades if they leave streaks or miss spots.
• Ensure battery cable connections are tight.
• Carry and emergency road kit with a blanket, flares, water, non-perishable snacks, first-aid kit, flashlight and shovel.
• Remember new laws that make handheld mobile devices illegal while driving.
• Call #77 if in need of assistance. Calls are directed to closest state police barrack.
• Have a designated driver available.
• Visit the state Department of Transportation's CHART on the Web for highway alerts before departing.

Air

• Call the airline's customer service number or visit the airline's Web site to confirm flight before departing for airport.
• Consider printing boarding pass ahead of time or asking for electronic boarding pass.
• Place identification tags on outside and inside of baggage.
• Place label on laptops as well as carrying case.
• Remember government-issued photo identification if 18 and older.