BECKLEY, WV (WOAY)- Like many holidays, Easter comes with fun, family, and lastly, the chaos of travel. Easter is the 5th busiest holiday travel time of the year. However, the travel around this time is spread out due to other travel-friendly events during this time.
Travel around Easter kicks off in a 4 to 6-week window due to spring break happening as well. However, AAA says after Easter and Memorial Day is when travel will pick up as it the kicks off the summer.
While Easter is not the holiday with the most travellers on the roads and skies, it does have people heading out to see family.
“So easter weekend is a heavily traveled time locally, more so for spring break families getting together,” said Melissa Norris, a senior travel advisor for AAA in Beckley. “Easter weekend is a great time for a family getaway and even if you’re on the roads.”
The Thursday and Friday before Easter are peak travel days as it’s the end of the work week. Bob Hicks and his wife were passing through Beckley on their way to charlotte North Carolina. He said it’s been an easy drive so far from Ohio.
“[There were] some stops, but it’s to be expected, always happens. No big issues, it’s fine,” explained Bob Hicks, a traveller from Ohio. “It’s nice coming through the mountains and down here to see the sun and see the warmth.”
Now, when heading out this weekend, AAA has some extra tips to stay safe when travelling.
“Be cognizant of safety features. Always stop in a well-lit area if it’s at night,” explained Norris. “Make sure again you have plenty of gas in case you are held up in traffic, and you have to have that delay. Just be aware of your surroundings too.”
Now, while Sunday is the holiday, it’s also the peak day for travel back home. That’s because Easter Monday is not a federal holiday, so people will have to head back to work. However, there is still plenty of traffic on Monday from those who extended their holiday.
