LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) – It is one of the busiest times of the year for any means of transportation. Thanksgiving is almost here, and roadways, runways, and railways will be filled with holiday travelers.
According to AAA, about 92 percent of all Thanksgiving travelers will drive to their destination, with the busiest travel days being Tuesday, Wednesday, and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Roadways are likely to get clogged with traffic most of the day on those days.
AAA’s mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean said it would be best for people to drive early in the morning or late at night to avoid constant traffic backup, although it is unlikely people will avoid traffic together at those times.
Drivers in Virginia do have some good news. The current average price of gas per gallon is $2.95, which is one of the lowest it has been all year, and only four cents higher than the lowest average price per gallon in the commonwealth in all of 2024.
For anyone traveling out of state, a lot of Virginia’s neighboring states have even lower average gas prices right now.
“Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina all have cheaper averages than Virginia,” Dean said. “If you’re driving through those states, try and plan out some of those gas stops in some of those areas where gas is cheaper.”
Thanksgiving is also a busy time of year for train travel. Most of the trips into and out of Roanoke over the next week are sold out.
However, there is still room for people with flexible schedules, and anyone who already purchased their train tickets is encouraged you show up a bit earlier than normal.
“Definitely arrive a little bit earlier than you normally would and anticipate some crowds because they will be there,” Karina Romero, the communications manager for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, said. “If you’re traveling in a group, perhaps have everyone board together because that will make it easier when the conductor comes around to check tickets.”
According to TSA screenings, airports across the country have had multiple record-setting days for screenings, and we could see another this week. Local airports like the one in Lynchburg are ready for the rush.
Despite a 24-hour workers’ strike at the Charlotte airport, no flights in Lynchburg” have been affected yet.
“As of right now, we have not been made aware of any impacts to Lynchburg, based on the strike going on at Charlotte,” Cedric Simon, the acting airport director for the Lynchburg Regional Airport said.