San Diego travelers flock to reach their Thanksgiving destinations – NBC 7 San Diego

Whether traveling by plane, train or automobile this holiday, travelers will likely endure busy commutes to get to their Thanksgiving destinations this week.

Nearly 80 million people are expected to travel by air and road this Thanksgiving, according to AAA. The Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving were expected to be the busiest times on the road. AAA forecast traffic on the Interstate 15 corridor from Palm Springs to San Diego is expected to increase by 38% on Saturday.

For air travelers, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority estimates that approximately 460,000 people will travel through the airport between Tuesday and Sunday. On the six busiest days, an estimated 76,000 people will pass through the airport each day. The Transportation Security Administration predicts 18.3 million air travelers nationwide from the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to the Monday after.

According to the airport authority, the estimates are around 4 to 6% more than in the same period last year. The busiest days are the Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday and the following Sunday.

Weather influences are also likely to delay travel throughout the week. Rain and snow are expected to impact the New England region, the Sierra Mountains to the northern Rocky Mountains, according to NBC 7 meteorologist Angelica Campos.

Staffing shortages at the FAA could also impact travel times. Airport security also urged passengers to arrive early and check baggage rules. The TSA has a list of items that are prohibited or restricted on its website.

There were around 100 delays and three cancellations at San Diego Airport as of Tuesday afternoon.

Those traveling to San Diego International Airport for pickup or drop-off should expect delays on North Harbor Drive near West Laurel Street and Anchor Island, both due to heavy traffic and the airport’s Terminal 1 project with ongoing construction work. The busiest times on the roadside are 4:00 a.m. to 6:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to midnight.

To avoid holiday problems, the airport authority has offered some tips:

• Arrive at least two hours early to avoid the busiest times.
• Reserve parking spaces at www.san.org/parking.
• Take advantage of the free San Diego Flyer shuttle service between the Old Town Transit Station and SAN. The electric shuttle buses run seven days a week, with an average arrival time of every 20 to 30 minutes. The first pickup is at 4:45 a.m. and the last pickup/drop-off is at 12:30 p.m.
• Have family or friends drop you off or use rideshare services.

Amtrak is expecting its busiest week of the year and heavy traffic is expected on the roads. The American Automobile Association predicts that nearly 80 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home this year – 1.7 million more than last year and 2 million more than in 2019.