LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- AAA and officials at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport are warning Kentuckians to brace for another record-setting Thanksgiving travel period, with packed highways, busy terminals and little margin for error for anyone heading out this week.
AAA projects nearly 82 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home -- the most since the organization began tracking the holiday in 2000.
"Thanksgiving is going to be another record breaker," said AAA spokesperson Lynda Lambert.
Lambert said about 73 million people will be driving, making it one of the busiest years on the roads. "Our highways will be very, very crowded. That's up 1.3 million over last year."
Another six million people are expected to fly, keeping airports busy nationwide. Even with concerns earlier this year about air travel disruptions, Lambert said the agency does not expect major issues heading into the holiday.
"We do realize that this year, even though the shutdown is over and people may feel a little uncertain about flying -- our car numbers, our highway travelers, could increase. But the shutdown is over and flights are resuming normal, and so we don't anticipate any major problems."
Drivers urged to prep early
AAA advises Kentucky drivers to prepare their vehicles ahead of time to avoid preventable breakdowns.
"Our top three reasons for rescuing people are always dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts," Lambert said. "Some of that can be avoided with proper car maintenance."
She recommends packing an emergency kit with snacks, water, blankets, a flashlight, a small tool kit and warning triangles.
The heaviest traffic is expected Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and again Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
"Our best advice is get up and get out early, or wait and leave later in the day," Lambert said.
SDF prepares for a surge of flyers
At Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, officials expect another extremely busy stretch, similar to record traffic seen last Thanksgiving.
"We are expecting another busy travel period from Wednesday through Sunday, said SDF spokesperson Natalie Chaudoin. "We're expecting more than 36,000 outbound seats."
The busiest outbound day will likely be Wednesday, with nearly 8,000 departing seats. Sunday is expected to bring the most inbound travelers.
SDF is strongly urging travelers to arrive early.
"Arrive early. Make sure you're here at least two hours in advance," Chaudoin said. "If you have an early morning departure before 8:30 a.m., we would even recommend two and a half hours early."
Parking lots are expected to fill intermittently, especially the garage and surface lots. Travelers are encouraged to consider the East and West Premier lots or the Express Shuttle lot, which doubles as a free cell phone waiting area for up to two hours.
TSA tips: pack smart, leave gifts unwrapped
Airport officials also reminded travelers to take packing seriously.
"If you're traveling with holiday gifts this year, leave them unwrapped as they may have to check them and your beautiful wrapping job might get opened in the process," Chaudoin said.
Kentuckians planning to take bourbon as a gift should keep one rule in mind: "Liquor is liquid, so if it's larger than 3.4 ounces, it needs to go in that checked bag," Chaudoin said.
TSA now offers a text-based tool for travelers unsure about what can go through security. If you have questions or concerns, you can text them to ASK-TSA (275-872).
Despite issues at larger airports earlier this year, SDF avoided major fallout from the federal government shutdown.
The airport expects to have all six permanent security lanes open, with a seventh pop-up lane available during peak times.
Both AAA and SDF say the best strategy for Louisville travelers is simple: plan ahead, arrive early, and expect crowds no matter how you're getting where you're going.
"Americans love to travel, and again, this is that holiday where we want to be with our family and friends," Lambert said. "There was some pent up demand there for a couple of years, and I think we're now seeing the repercussions of that."
More Local News:
Indiana man accused of illegally dumping 8,000 pounds of construction debris
Louisville Slugger plays important part in getting turkey on your table
Man hospitalized after shooting in Louisville's Iroquois neighborhood
Kentucky orders shutdown of pull-tab devices due to theft, leaving Louisville charity in crisis
Copyright 2025 WDRB Media. All rights reserved.
