Travelers nationwide are predicted to contend with record-breaking traffic, according to AAA. Maryland commuters in particular face poor weather conditions and probable congestion across the state.

This year, AAA’s Thanksgiving traffic forecast includes the Tuesday before and the Monday following the holiday weekend, estimating a record 79.9 million Americans will travel 50 or more miles during this period. AAA believes the vast majority of those traveling will be driving, a 1.9% increase in predicted drivers from last year’s numbers.

Although Wednesday evening should be clear, Marylanders can anticipate an 80% chance of rain Thursday. In the Baltimore region, the Maryland State Highway Administration advised drivers via the social media platform X to hit the road before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on Wednesday and to expect congestion on local highways I-95, I-695, I-70, I-895 and MD 295.

By Thursday’s expected rainstorms, however, Baltimore traffic should be abated, the State Highway Administration believes, saying Thanksgiving will be a good day to travel in the region. Tuesday and Sunday could present traffic challenges though, particularly between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday and between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday.

If commuters plan to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge this week, they should expect traffic most of the day, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority’s posted outlook. Every day from Tuesday to Sunday carries a traffic warning. Tuesday and Sunday have better traffic outlooks than the rest of the week, however, with the MTA saying drivers should aim to travel before noon or after 8 p.m. Tuesday and before 10 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Sunday.

Wednesday through Saturday on the bridge will likely be traffic-laden most of the day. The State Highway Administration believes the eastbound lanes will be more congested; the bridge’s westbound lane should only have moderate traffic on Friday, the administration said on X.

AAA noted in particular that drivers coming from D.C. to Annapolis via US-50 could face traffic 120% over normal rates. The worst time to drive that route will be Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., according to data in AAA’s report from transportation data firm INRIX.

The State Highway Administration’s estimates gelled with that prediction, saying the best times to travel in the Washington region will be before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Tuesday. Wednesday carries a similar warning, with traffic supposed to ease after 4 p.m. After that, Sunday’s prediction is the next-most severe. Travelers should plan to be on the road before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m., the post says.

Avoiding traffic by turning to transit options won’t be easy either. The Maryland Transit Administration’s website says that on Thanksgiving, all MTA local buses, the Baltimore Metro Subway and light rail services will run on a Sunday/holiday schedule. MTA commuter buses will operate neither Thursday nor Friday except for Route 201 between Gaithersburg and Warner Street in Baltimore, which stops at BWI Marshall Airport. Similarly, the MARC train will not run at all Thursday, and only Penn line service will run Friday.

Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks.