Planes, trains, and automobiles (and ferries): Thanksgiving travel times in Western Washington

It's time for fall feasts with friends and family. Before you can watch a big parade, steal extra slices of pumpkin pie, pretend your loved one's special recipe with raisins is actually palatable, or get into heated arguments with your relatives, you have to get there.

In Western Washington, it's safe to say: Don't expect smooth and easy travel around Thanksgiving.

RELATED: Record number of people expected to travel for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2024 is Thursday, Nov. 28. Many also have Friday off for Native American Heritage Day. That potentially adds up to a four-day weekend with a lot of people traveling across town, Western Washington, and the USA.

The Port of Seattle expects about 1.5 million people to pass through Sea-Tac Airport between Nov. 21-30. Alaska Airlines alone is flying 230,000 Seattle passengers over Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 29 through Dec. 1). The airline notes that the number of Thanksgiving passengers is up 6% from last year. Alaska says Dec. 1 will be its busiest travel day of the year.

Sea-Tac forecasts three days around Thanksgiving with the heaviest traffic passing through the airport. Plan for heavy traffic to and from the airport. Sea-Tac's Spot Saver could be a good idea.

• Tuesday, Nov. 26: 161,000 people
• Wednesday, Nov. 27: 172,000 people
• Saturday, Nov. 30: 166,000 people

Washington State Ferries says about 300,000 people to hop on ferries across the system between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1. Long lines are expected. That means plan for wait times.

Boats are going to be most packed with cars Wednesday and Thursday on westbound routes and to islands, then Friday and Saturday going the other way. Very early morning, or late night times could be more freed up.

RELATED: Severe weather threatens Thanksgiving travel for millions as officials warn of delays

Amtrak says that more than a million passengers used its trains over the Thanksgiving holiday last year, which is 97% of pre-pandemic ridership. Expect trains to fill up again this year.

As for Sound Transit, there will be no Sounder service on Thanksgiving or Friday after the holiday. Other services may run on alternate schedules.

Driving and traffic for Thanksgiving 2024

After years of traffic data, the Washington State Department of Transportation has a pretty good idea of when and where the heaviest holiday road conditions will be in Western Washington. Four stretches of road are particularly busy around Thanksgiving:

• I-5 Lacey to Tacoma
• I-90 North Bend to Cle Elum
• US 2 between Skykomish and Stevens Pass
• I-5 between Bellingham and the U.S.-Canada border.

Scroll through the following images for some of the busiest times.

I-5 Lacey to Tacoma

I-5 Bellingham to the U.S.-Canada border

I-90 North Bend to Cle Elum

U.S. 2 between Stevens Pass and Skykomish