Thanksgiving Travel in NEPA: How to Get Through the Busiest Driving Week of the Year
Thanksgiving week is the busiest stretch of the year on the roads. AAA counted nearly 82 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles over last year's holiday, and about 9 in 10 of them went by car. In Northeastern Pennsylvania that means I-81, I-80, the Turnpike's Northeast Extension and Route 309 carrying far more traffic than usual, much of it from people who don't drive these roads every day.
This year Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26. Here is what to expect and how to get there and back safely.
The worst times to be on the road
AAA's traffic analysis consistently finds the heaviest congestion on the Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons before Thanksgiving, roughly late morning through early evening, and again on Sunday as everyone heads home. If you can leave Wednesday morning, Thursday morning or Monday, you'll likely have an easier trip.
Keep in mind that the sun sets before 5 p.m. in late November. A lot of holiday driving happens in the dark, often by drivers who are tired after a long day of work, travel or family.
The night before Thanksgiving
The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is one of the biggest bar nights of the year. People are home from college and work, catching up with old friends at the same local spots. Federal safety officials have taken to calling it "Blackout Wednesday."
The numbers explain why. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 910 people died in drunk-driving crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday periods from 2020 to 2024. That's more than a third of all traffic deaths over those holidays.
If you're going out, decide how you're getting home before the first drink.
Rideshare availability can be thin in parts of Luzerne and Lackawanna counties late at night. Line up a sober driver or a place to stay.
If you're hosting, have food and non-alcoholic options, and don't let a guest who has been drinking drive.
If you see a driver who appears impaired, pull over safely and call 911.
Before you leave
Check tire pressure and tread, wipers and washer fluid. Late November weather in the Poconos and along I-80 can change quickly.
Check road conditions on 511PA before you go.
Put your phone on driving mode and let someone else navigate. See Hit by a Distracted or Texting Driver.
Make sure kids are in the right car seat or booster for their age and size, even for short trips to relatives.
Watch for deer, especially at dawn and dusk. Late fall is peak season. See our post on deer collisions.
Give tractor-trailers room on I-81 and I-80. Holiday freight volumes are heavy too. See Truck Accidents in Pennsylvania.
If you're in a crash over the holiday
Call 911, get medical attention for anyone who needs it, and get a police report. Take photos and collect the other driver's information and the names of witnesses. If you're far from home, the other driver may be from out of state too, or you may crash in New York or New Jersey on the way to family. Different rules can apply.
A few pages in our Injury Help Center cover what to do next:
After-Accident Checklist (a free checklist you can tick off and print)
We hope your Thanksgiving is a good one, with everyone home safe at the end of it.
If you or someone in your family is hurt by a careless or impaired driver, the attorneys at Joyce, Carmody & Moran in Pittston can talk it through with you. The first conversation is free and there is no obligation. Request a free consultation.
