If you’re packing up for Shabbos this week, prepare for packed highways, overflowing airports and a travel surge unlike anything New Jersey has seen in recent Thanksgiving seasons. AAA says more than 2 million New Jersey residents will travel at least 50 miles. Nationally, a staggering 82 million Americans are expected to be on the move.
For those leaving ahead of Shabbos, that means one thing: leave early or risk crawling into licht bentching.
AAA predicts that 1.8 million New Jerseyans will drive to their destination — nearly nine out of ten travelers. The roads are already backed up, and they’re only going to get worse.
Nearly 175,000 New Jerseyans are flying this weekend, and even air travel is expected to push capacity limits. On top of that, more than 40,000 New Jerseyans will take cruise ships, trains, or buses. Travel demand across every mode of transportation is still climbing, reflecting what AAA calls Americans’ “continued desire for adventures and new experiences.”
If your Shabbos plans take you in or out of New York City, expect slow-moving lines and gridlock. The Port Authority is preparing for 8.8 million travelers between Nov. 24 and Dec. 1 — a record. That includes 3.3 million passengers passing through JFK, Newark, LaGuardia and Stewart, and 5.5 million vehicles crowding the bridges and tunnels.
To help with holiday traffic, the Port Authority is temporarily halting construction work on all crossings beginning 5 a.m. Tuesday through 5 a.m. next Monday.
The bottom line? Roads will be bumper-to-bumper. Airports will be packed. Travel times will stretch long past the usual. Whether you’re going to family, friends, a simcha, or a quiet Shabbos getaway, plan ahead, leave early and leave yourself plenty of time.