![Projections call for 156,000 travelers on Wednesday, peaking at 158,000 travelers on Sunday, then declining to 148,000 by Monday.](https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Large_Clark-County-Today-By-land-or-air-travel-plans-loom-large-over-Thanksgiving-weekend.jpg)
Projections call for 156,000 travelers on Wednesday, peaking at 158,000 travelers on Sunday, then declining to 148,000 by Monday
Randy Bracht
The Center Square Washington
Flying in or out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport this Thanksgiving holiday weekend? Driving over Snoqualmie Pass or along the I-5 corridor to enjoy turkey and pie with family or friends?
Join the crowd.
At Sea-Tac, airport officials anticipate one of the busiest Thanksgiving travel periods in the facility’s history between Wednesday and next Monday. Projections call for 156,000 travelers on Wednesday, peaking at 158,000 travelers on Sunday, then declining to 148,000 by Monday.
The airport normally averages about 126,000 travelers per day.
Along with packing in more people over the next several days, travelers may encounter ongoing construction from curb to gate, part of a $546 million modernization project that is expected to be finished in the fall of 2026.
The Port of Seattle, which owns and operates the airport, says the improvements are financed by a combination of development funds, future revenue bonds, and a cost-share reimbursement agreement with home-based Alaska Airlines.
To strive for a lower-stress, more predictable trip, airport officials offer these tips:
- Arrive early, at least two hours before boarding time for a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Add even more time if you need to park or check luggage.
- Be aware of the busiest times to enter the terminal: More than one-third of daily passenger volume arrives before 9 a.m., causing congestion at TSA security checkpoints and on the drives. Other peak periods are between 2-5 p.m. and 9-11 p.m.
- Drivers should expect serious congestion during peak periods. Consider public transportation, van shuttles, or ride shares. If driving and parking is the only option, plan on an extra 45 to 60 minutes to find a spot. Don’t park on the shoulder of airport drives: it’s dangerous and illegal and violators will be cited. Drivers waiting to pick up passengers can park temporarily in the reconfigured cell phone lot.
- For information about flights, baggage policies, and flight check-in, contact your airline directly.
- Be flexible.
For those traveling by vehicle for the holiday, the Washington Department of Transportation also has tips for trips.
State highways across Washington will see higher-than-usual traffic, especially on Interstate 90, where lengthy delays can occur. Travelers can use WSDOT’s online tools and the department’s app and social media accounts to track current travel conditions.
Charts are available which show peak traffic flow periods – usually mid-morning through mid-afternoon — on Interstate 5 between Lacey and Tacoma, on I-90 between North Bend and Cle Elum over Snoqualmie Pass, US 2 between Stevens Pass and Skykomish, and the I-5 corridor between Bellingham and the Canadian border.
The National Weather Service is forecasting a chance of rain or snow on Wednesday on both mountain passes, but little to no snow accumulation is expected. Sunny skies with high temperatures in the 30s and low in the 20s are predicted from Thursday to Sunday on both Snoqualmie and Stevens passes.
Nonetheless, DOT officials advise drivers to slow down on potentially icy roadways and give themselves extra travel time due to congestion.
It’s also recommended that drivers carry chains as a precaution, check vehicle fluids and tire pressures before leaving home, and pack a “winter car kit” with extra supplies – warm clothing, ice scraper and brush, jumper cables, snacks and water, and other emergency items.
This report was first published by The Center Square Washington.
Also read:
- Harvest Days in Battle Ground coming up July 19-21The Battle Ground Festivals Association is preparing for three days of celebration, including a car cruise on Friday night, a parade on Saturday, and fireworks on Saturday night at Harvest Days.
- Organizers looking for cars for Cruise to the Shoug show on Aug. 454-40 Brewing Co. is hosting Cruise to the Shoug on Aug. 4 as a fundraiser for the Camas-Washougal Community Chest, and organizers are looking for car owners to book their spots for the show.
- Trump picks Ohio’s J.D. Vance for vice presidentFormer President Donald Trump picked U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, to serve as his vice president should Trump beat President Joe Biden this November for another term in the White House.
- Children with disabilities make memories at the 24th annual Merwin Day of FishingOn Saturday (July 13), Pacific Power and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife joined together to host a memorable fishing event for children with disabilities at the Merwin Fish Hatchery near Woodland.
- Letter: For the public record and the Comprehensive PlanIn a July 12 letter to the Clark County Council, Clark County Citizens United President Susan Rasmussen shares that primary stakeholders were ignored in the Wetland and Habitat Ordinance Conservation Covenant.
- CASE DISMISSED: Classified documents case against Trump thrown out by judgeA federal judge in Florida dismissed the classified documents-related criminal case against former President Donald Trump on Monday, saying the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith violated the Constitution.
- Photos: Log show and parade at Territorial Days 2024 in AmboyTerritorial Days in Amboy never disappoints, and this weekend brought all kinds of activities in logging country, and Clark County Today had a photographer there to capture images from the annual parade and log show.