Highways and airports will be abuzz around Thanksgiving, the busiest travel holiday of the year, as a record 81.8 million Americans are projected by the American Automobile Association to make trips of 50 miles or more.

The expected number of travelers is up by 1.6 million from a year earlier, according to AAA.

In Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas 7.4 million people are expected to travel, including 6.8 million by car, 432,000 by plane and 177,000 by bus, train or boat.

The total for the four-state region is up 1% compared to last year.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation and Arkansas State Police said they are taking steps to handle the influx. For example, drivers might see fewer orange barrels on roads.

“Standard practice for work zones is to not allow ‘optional’ lane closures the day before a holiday through the day after. In this case, no optional lane closures between Wednesday a.m. and Monday p.m.,” said Dave Parker, a spokesperson for the Transportation Department, in an email.

Rural routes see particularly sharp increases in traffic around Thanksgiving, Parker said.

While the roads aren’t necessarily more dangerous, higher traffic volumes tend to lead to more crashes, he said.

“This is simply because there are more cars on the road, and not because there is increased danger,” Parker said. “That said, the fall months are challenging because while days are shorter, Arkansas temperatures are still moderate, and evening activities still occur, leading to more nighttime driving.”

Drivers should wear seatbelts, avoid distractions, not drive while impaired and follow speed limits and other posted signage, Parker said. They should also check road conditions using the iDriveArkansas app or website, he said.

Arkansas State Police Capt. Brad Lann said the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving typically see the most travelers heading out from home, while Sunday is the busiest day for people to return.

“With major thoroughfares such as Interstate 40 and Interstate 30 running through the state, we consistently see a significant surge in traffic,” Lann said in an email. “Many people choose to travel for Thanksgiving even if they stay home for other holidays, which adds to the overall volume on our roadways.”

Increased traffic means roads can become more dangerous at peak times, said Lann. He recommends people leave early to account for potential delays, exercise additional caution when driving during busy times and stay informed on traffic conditions.

“State Troopers and other law enforcement agencies will be out on patrol to help keep our roadways as safe as possible throughout the holiday travel period. We encourage drivers to report any suspected impaired or reckless driver, as well as any other incident requiring law enforcement response,” Lann said.

Drivers won’t notice much difference at the pump this Thanksgiving. The average gas price in Arkansas heading into the holiday was about $2.68 for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel, according to AAA. That was a 3-cent increase compared to last week and a 1-cent decrease compared to last year.

Of the larger metropolitan areas surveyed in Arkansas, Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers had the highest average prices at $2.75 per gallon. Drivers in Hot Springs were paying the least, $2.59 per gallon. The price in Little Rock was just below the state average at $2.63 per gallon.

Nationally, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $3.10 — a 2 cent increase compared to a week earlier and 3 cents more compared to last year, according to AAA.

BY AIR

According to the Transportation Security Administration, Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field is expected to see a nearly 4% increase in departing passengers during the Thanksgiving travel period. An estimated 52,561 passengers will be screened between Friday, Nov. 21 and Tuesday, Dec. 2, an increase of nearly 2,000 when compared with 50,681 screened during the same period last year, the airport said in a news release. The Sunday after Thanksgiving looks to be the airport’s busiest day, with 5,376 departing travelers.

“Airport officials urge passengers to arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departure, especially for early-morning flights between 5-7 a.m. and when assistance is needed at the airline ticket counter,” the release says. “Travelers without a REAL ID-compliant form of identification should allow additional time for identity verification at the TSA checkpoint.”

Ongoing construction of a new curbside canopy has caused a change in the traffic pattern at airport’s entrance, the release notes. Drivers should pay attention to signs indicating traffic changes, the airport said.

At Northwest Arkansas National Airport, early forecasts based on preliminary airline inputs indicated a busy holiday travel period, Olivia Tyler, the airport’s public affairs manager, said.

Friday and Sunday were expected to be the busiest days, Tyler said. For returning travelers, Sunday is typically the busiest day, she said.

She also offered some tips to make holiday travel smoother.

“For travelers, our standard holiday guidance remains the same. We recommend arriving at least two hours before departure, especially on the busiest days, and planning ahead for parking and the time needed to get from the lot to the terminal,” Tyler said. “Checking in through the airline’s mobile app is the quickest way to save time at the counter, and travelers should review TSA guidelines if they are flying with food or gifts. We also encourage passengers to monitor their flight status frequently, as holiday weather can influence operations.”

BY RAIL

Amtrak, which serves Little Rock and other cities in the state with its Texas Eagle route that runs from San Antonio to Chicago, is encouraging travelers to book as soon as possible to secure Thanksgiving tickets before they sell out. Around the holiday last year, more than 1.2 million traveled using the service, Amtrack said in a news release.

This year, Amtrak predicts record breaking Thanksgiving travel, with double digit growth in early bookings relative to last year.

“Amtrak offers a comfortable, convenient alternative to congested highways and crowded airports all year round — especially during the busy holiday season,” Amtrack Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch said in the release. “Whether you’re a longtime guest or joining us for the first time, we invite you to experience the ease and hospitality of Amtrak as you travel to your holiday gatherings.”

Information for this article was contributed by Ron Wood of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.