Thanksgiving travel tips to avoid airport chaos at DCA

ARLINGTON, Va. (7News) — As the Thanksgiving holiday weekend comes to a close, travelers heading to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) are urged to plan to avoid traffic chaos.

Last year, bumper-to-bumper traffic forced some people to abandon their cars and run to security. The delays were hours long just to get to the drop-off area.

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“Every holiday weekend, especially Thanksgiving, is gonna have a ton of traffic,” Emily McGee, spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), said. She recommends turning to Metro to avoid that kind of chaos.

One of the best tips, if you’re dropping somebody off, picking somebody up, go to a Metro Station that’s maybe one away from the airport, like Potomac Yard or Crystal City, and pick up or drop off there.

Both stations are on the yellow and blue lines, accessible via transfer from other lines across the DMV.

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“That makes more sense, yeah, definitely,” traveler Andrea Fooks said, heading back home to San Antonio after the holiday weekend. “Just going back to work, back to reality.”

Fooks echoes McGee’s advice, which doesn’t end with the Metro trick:

If you’re coming to the airport to pick somebody up and the traffic is pretty backed up, consider coming and picking them up on the departures level because often times, especially in the evening, the traffic up there will be a lot less than the arrivals. Just call your friend or whoever and have them come up and pick you up here.

Above all, McGee emphasizes patience and kindness towards airport staff, saying, “Just please be patient and remember everybody who’s working at the airport, TSA, FAA, everyone who works for the airlines, they’re doing it so you can travel for your holiday, so be nice.”

RELATED | Travelers face chaos as FAA flight restrictions disrupt plans at Reagan National Airport

To monitor departures and arrivals out of DCA, click here.

To do the same at Dulles, click here. For BWI, click here.