Thanksgiving Travel Tips – Updated for 2023
Updated March 8, 2024 | Published November 22, 2022
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Categories:
- Fall
- For Drivers
- Safe Driving
Thanksgiving is many Americans’ favorite time of the year. It’s an opportunity to spend time with family, eat great food, and watch football or a parade. The day before Thanksgiving is the second busiest traveling day of the year, with more than 55 million people planning to travel 50 miles or more. With more people on the road, there is more opportunity for accidents. At WebFirst Insurance, we want to make sure our customers are safe and secure while they hit the air, or the open road, for their holiday travel plans.
Before you leave the house
The stress of holiday travel often begins before you even leave the house. If you’re staying somewhere overnight, you’ll need to pack a bag with clothes toiletries, chargers, etc. Throw your children in the mix, along with packing all of their belongings, and that becomes a cause for early stress before you even head out the door. Here are some things to keep in mind before you head out the door to reduce stress.
- Make a packing list. This will help you speed up packing, as well as make sure nothing is forgotten.
- Pack at least a day before. This will help with stress on the day that you leave for your trip.
- Load your car the night before. When you wake up, all you’ll have to do is get wake up and go.
- Get a good night’s sleep. More sleep helps relieve stress, as well as loading your car (thanks to our list!).
- Make sure the house is clean before you leave. One less thing to stress out about when you get home from your trip.
- Have something to look forward to in the morning. Make sure you have something you’ll like ready for you in the morning, to help put a smile on your face… especially if you have to wake up early.
Traveling by air
Many millions of individuals are ready to fly all across the nation Thanksgiving week. The busiest days for air travel, according to Fox 59, will be the day before Thanksgiving (November 22nd), and the Sunday after Thanksgiving (November 26th). Here are some tips to help while you’re in the air.
- Allow extra time. Allow at least an extra hour for unexpected hiccups. That way if you hit traffic, or it’s packed at the airport, or need extra time for parking, you won’t be stressed and rushing into the airport at the last minute. It’s better to be there super early than be running through the airport because you’re going to be late.
- Get a friend to drive you to the airport. This will help you save money on parking. Vehicle theft also prevalent, so having a friend drive you is one less thing to worry about during the craziest travel time of the year.
- Pack an emergency carry on. Include some emergency toiletries, a change of clothes or two, chargers, and some snacks. Unfortunately, mistakes happen, and your luggage may not end up with you right when you get to the airport. Although this is a rarity, it’s better to be prepared than to be left stranded.
- Have a plan of action for when you get to the airport. Go over it with your children as well, so that everyone is on the same page.
Traveling by car
Based off of traveling data from previous years, expect the day before Thanksgiving, and Black Friday to be the busiest driving days. Times to avoid on those days are between 11 am and 9 pm on Wednesday, and between 1 pm and 4 pm on Friday. Even if you’re not traveling during holiday rush hour, it’s still a good idea to keep these driving tips in mind.
Take breaks from driving.
If another licensed driver is in the car, the best thing to do is switch drivers every two hours or 100 miles. If you are the only licensed adult in the car, take a break at the same intervals. It is a good idea to take a short nap.
Keep the driver company.
As a passenger, it is important to help the driver focus on the road; if the driver needs anything, make sure you get it for them so they don’t have to break their concentration.
Be mindful of trucks.
Being the largest type of commuter and commercial vehicle, its crucial to be extra cautious when driving near trucks. Here are some tips for defensive driving around trucks:
- Keep your turn signal on longer than normal
- Make 100% sure the truck is clear of your vehicle before changing lanes
- Do not tailgate
- Do not cut off anyone, especially trucks
Have entertainment for children.
Pack some entertainment so that your children are preoccupied during long car rides.
Give yourself extra time.
So that you don’t have to feel like you’re rushing, give yourself some extra time to account for traffic.
Wondering what you should do if you get into a car accident? Read more here for step-by-step assistance.
Give thanks
Once the rush of holiday travel and cooking is over, be sure to enjoy quality time with family and friends. All of us here at WebFirst Insurance wish you a safe, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving.
WebFirst Insurance, LLC is a subsidiary of Webster First Federal Credit Union, offering vehicle, property & home, term life, and business insurance. WebFirst Insurance will work with you to determine the right coverage for your needs, and then search their network of carriers to find the right price. Contact an agent today and get started finding the right coverage.