Atlanta Ranked As One Of The Most Challenging Cities For Holiday
The remaining weeks of the year can be a lot of fun as we hit the holidays. It also can be frustrating dealing with the massive amounts of traffic. So, how does Atlanta fare in terms of ranking the worst cities for holiday traffic and travel in the country?
There are a few different factors to look at here. Obviously, this Thanksgiving week serves as one of the highest volume traffic periods of the year. This is especially true the two days before Thursday and the Sunday after, with friends and family traveling to host sites. In addition, these are the typical days when colleges get out for their holiday break.
In a recent feature by U.S. News and World Report, Atlanta ranked as one of the worst cities in America for traffic. The metric examined here was based on “congestion” in these cities.
Atlanta ranked as the tenth worst major city for traffic. This was largely due to the recorded delay hours and high costs per driver. Chicago ranked number one, with Boston and New York among the top three.
Worst Cities For Holiday Travel
Forbes narrowed down traffic concerns in America by focusing on the holiday months. “Historically, visitors to certain cities have faced a greater risk of air travel disruptions, traffic congestion, car accidents, and inflated hotel prices during the holiday season,” they said when explaining the large percentage of Americans that travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January.
However, the news for Atlanta here is not terrible as it is not in Forbes’ top ten worst cities for holiday travel. Memphis, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, New York, and Tucson rounded out their top five. Nonetheless, Georgia did not escape this conversation unscathed. Forbes lists Atlanta as the 18th worst city for holiday traffic and travel.
“14.18% of flights out of Philadelphia were delayed, canceled or diverted during the holiday season between 2018 and 2022,” Forbes said. To construct this ranking, Forbes specifically analyzes three categories, including overall driving, air travel, and city experience in the greater metro areas.
If you will be traveling in or out of the greater Atlanta area this holiday season and bracing for traffic, it is suggested to aim for off-peak hours as much as possible.
Georgia Has One of the Most Affordable Christmas Vacations in the U.S.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and it offers a beautiful view of snowy hills and Amish country. It’s a very old-fashioned type of town, making it a charming winter getaway. There are plenty of fun, holiday-type things to do in Lancaster that won’t break the bank.
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Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth, Michigan, is the self-proclaimed Christmas capital city of the world. Okay, so many argue that Strasbourg, France, takes that honor, but Frankenmuth is close, and it’s a lot cheaper to get there. No passport needed. The villiage’s Franconian-style architecture has given it the loving name “Little Bavaria.” Frankenmuth is also home to the world’s biggest Christmas store.
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Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina, is a great spot to visit in the holiday season, because it’s not as crowded as other times during the year. It’s also less expensive to visit during the holidays and offers beautiful decorations during Christmas. Don’t forget the many holiday markets.
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