PARKERSBURG — Thanksgiving 2025 is projected to be one of the most heavily traveled holidays in at least 10 years.

Officials for the West Virginia Turnpike expect 740,000 vehicles on the Turnpike over the Thanksgiving holiday season that runs through Sunday, Nov. 30.

Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel times on the Turnpike.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday are typically the two days that see the most traffic on the Turnpike, officials said.

To help avoid congestion, Turnpike officials urge travelers to avoid peak travel times between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period. This year’s domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record. Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel compared to others like Memorial Day and July 4, officials said.

“Many people look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday each year because it’s the perfect time to get together with family and friends,” said Jim Garrity, director of public affairs, AAA East Central. “Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times to travel, and AAA has found the majority of people are willing to brave the crowds and make any necessary adjustments to their plans to make those lifelong memories.”

Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board said the department will keep its normal patrol levels during the holiday weekend, but will adjust them if needed.

“Our officers monitor traffic levels and will make changes if needed,” he said.

On Black Friday, Board said the department increases patrols in the shopping areas. He said they watch for the safety of the pedestrians as well as for vehicles.

Vienna Police Chief Carl Powell said there are no plans for extra patrols this year. He said in past years the city would have a few extra officers on duty over the Thanksgiving holiday.

“In past years some local businesses would ask for extra patrols on Black Friday and we would have maybe four more officers out, but not now,” he said. “I guess they don’t think they need it or they have private security.

“Black Friday is not what it used to be.”

Washington County Sheriff Mark Warden said no extra patrols are planned for Thanksgiving 2025.

“We will have our normal patrols, nothing special,” he said. “It’s going to be cold with that storm coming through, I hope we don’t have to deal with black ice.”

AAA projects at least 73 million people will travel by car, that’s nearly 90% of Thanksgiving travelers.

At the pump, drivers are paying about the same as last year, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.06 on Thanksgiving Day. Filling the tank is a good idea the night before a road trip since it’s one less thing to do on travel day. AAA also recommends checking your battery and tire pressure. Last Thanksgiving holiday period, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.

During the Thanksgiving holiday reporting period, which runs from midnight today, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers will be focusing on removing impaired drivers from Ohio’s roadways. In addition, they will be on the lookout for safety belt, speeding and distracted driving violations.

“As the busy holiday travel season begins, I urge all Ohioans to be safe and smart while behind the wheel,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. “Every driver has the ability to prevent devastating crashes and serious injuries by buckling up, putting distractions away, and driving sober.”

As drivers prepare to get behind the wheel, AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving remind travelers about the dangers of impaired driving. This time of year can be particularly deadly on the roads.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2019 to 2023, the death toll in drunk-driving crashes during Thanksgiving festivities was 868, representing more than one-third (35%) of all fatalities in traffic crashes during that holiday period. Have a plan in place before Thanksgiving, and use a rideshare, designate a sober driver, or take public transit to ensure everyone’s safety.

To promote roadway safety and prevent needless tragedies, the OSHP is asking drivers to keep four critical safety steps in mind as they travel this week:

*Designate a sober driver or use a rideshare.

*Make sure every occupant in the vehicle is wearing a safety belt.

*Follow the posted speed limits.

*Put distractions away and focus on driving.

According to OSHP statistics, 11 people were killed in 10 crashes on Ohio’s roadways during last year’s Thanksgiving reporting period. Of those, alcohol and/or drugs were a contributing factor in five of the fatal crashes.

There were also three pedestrians fatally stuck during the five-day reporting period.

“Driving responsibly isn’t just a choice; it’s a shared obligation,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “Help make this a fatality-free holiday period by prioritizing sober driving, wearing your safety belt and staying focused on the task of driving.”

Motorists are encouraged to safely call #677 to report impaired drivers, drug activity or stranded motorists on Ohio roadways.