ATLANTA — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport officials hosted a news conference on Tuesday as they prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday travel surge.
A total of 4.2 million passengers are expected at the Atlanta airport during the travel period, which begins on Friday, Nov. 22, and ends on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
According to a news release, AAA added that nearly 80 million Americans are expected to travel over Thanksgiving.
Watch Hartsfield-Jackson Airport's full Thanksgiving travel press conference in the video below.
Here are some holiday travel tips, and the best and worst travel times to travel for Thanksgiving, according to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport officials and AAA:
How early should passengers show up at Atlanta airport for Thanksgiving travel?
Officials recommend that travelers get to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport at least two-and-a-half to three hours before departure.
Transportation Security Administration expects 18.3 million passengers nationwide during the travel period.
"The busiest day will be Friday with over 370,000 passengers, and next to that will be Saturday and Sunday when everyone is flying in and flying out on November 30th and December 1st, we'll anticipate 360,000 and 358,000 passengers respectively," according to officials.
TSA added that passengers should make sure they do not carry prohibited items, which can often make wait times longer.
Thanksgiving travel tips from AAA
Garrett Townsend, the public affairs director for AAA, said at Tuesday's news conference that the agency expects that nearly 40,000 more drivers will be hitting the Georgia roads than last Thanksgiving holiday.
Townsend added that low gas prices are more than likely contributing to the higher number of those traveling.
"There are a number of different factors as to why we think that this is going to be a record-setting holiday. Probably the most significant one is the fact that gas prices are low," he said.
Townsend said that gas prices are below $3 a gallon.
Nearly 40,000. Drivers more than last year are going to be hitting the road here in Georgia. That's a significant number.
Best and worst times to travel by car for Thanksgiving
Monday, Nov. 25
- Worst: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Best: Before 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26
- Worst: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Best: Before 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 27
- Worst: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Best: Before 10 a.m.
Thursday, Nov. 28
- Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
Friday, Nov. 29
- Worst: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
- Best: After 1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30
- Worst: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Best: Before 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 1
- Worst: Noon to 6 p.m.
- Best: Before 1 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 2
- Worst: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Best: Before 8 a.m./After 7 p.m.
AAA also suggests that peak congestion in metro Atlanta could happen in Birmingham to Atlanta through I-20 E on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 4:45 p.m. The estimated travel time on that route could be 3 hours 17 minutes.
To read more holiday travel tips from AAA, click here.