Thanksgiving travel tips

Thanksgiving travel tips

Drivers can save time and take advantage of lower tolls on the 95 Express Lanes by avoiding the busiest travel times

The express version

• To save time and take advantage of lower tolls, the Express Lanes team encourages drivers to use the 95 Express Lanes on:
  • Tuesday, November 20, before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, November 21, before 1:30 p.m. or after 5:30 p.m.
• Drivers could save as much as one hour in travel time by taking the 95 Express Lanes next week.
• Last Thanksgiving, drivers who used the 95 Express Lanes saved an average of 27 minutes. Those who traveled during less busy hours also saved as much as 50 percent off their tolls.

Tysons, Va. – Before drivers hit the road this Thanksgiving, the Express Lanes team recommends planning ahead to avoid traffic and delays.

Traffic on I-95 is expected to surge on Tuesday, November 20 and Wednesday, November 21. If last year is any indication, drivers could save as much as one hour in travel time by taking the 95 Express Lanes next week.

What to expect and when to travel

In 2017, more than 228,000 trips were taken on the 95 Express Lanes between Tuesday, November 21 and Sunday, November 26. Drivers who took the Lanes saved an average of 27 minutes, with some saving more than one hourcompared to those who took the regular lanes. In fact, drivers who avoided the busiest travel periods also saved as much as 50 percent off their tolls.

This year:

• Traffic will likely be heaviest on Tuesday, November 20 and Wednesday, November 21. For drivers going south, the best times to travel include:
  • Tuesday, November 20: Before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, November 21:Before 1:30 p.m. or after 5:30 p.m.

• Toll prices may be higher than normal during busy travel times, so it pays to plan ahead. Drivers can check real-time toll pricing and live traffic updates by heading to ExpressLanes.comor downloading the free Express Lanes mobile app (Apple App Store® or the Google Play Store®).

• To help the region with the changing holiday travel patterns, the 95 Express Lanes reversal schedule will be adjusted:
  • Tuesday, November 20: Southbound opens around noon.
  • Wednesday, November 21: Southbound opens around noon.
  • Thursday, November 22: Northbound opens around 2 a.m. and remains all day. 

How to stay updated

Once drivers are on the road, pricing and traffic updates will be available on overhead signs. Updates will also be available onlinevia Twitter(@VAExpressLanes).

As a reminder: An E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex is required to use the 95 and 495 Express Lanes. If out-of-town visitors accidently travel on the Lanes without an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex, they can head to ExpressLanes.com/missed-a-toll or contact the customer service center at 1-855-497-9777.

About the Express Lanes operated by Transurban

The 95 and 495 Express Lanes provide drivers in Northern Virginia with faster and more predictable travel options. The Express Lanes stretch more than 40 miles from north of the Dulles Toll Road to Stafford County. Thanks to a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban, the Express Lanes give drivers reliable travel choices on two of northern Virginia’s most congested roadways. For more information, please visit ExpressLanes.com.

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