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Dulles, VA - November 21, 2000 - This Thanksgiving holiday, expected to be one of the most traveled Thanksgivings on record, more than 30 million Americans are taking to the streets to visit family and friends. According to a national MapQuest.com poll, despite higher gas prices and the availability of inexpensive airfare, 85% of polltakers say they plan to travel by car. The poll also predicts that the busiest days for travel will be Wednesday and Thursday Thanksgiving), with most people traveling before noon on both days. Thanksgiving Traffic Patterns The MapQuest.com Thanksgiving travel poll finds: - 85% of those traveling this holiday are going by car, and less than 8% are traveling by airplane. - Nearly half of all travelers are going 60 miles or more this Thanksgiving, with 25% planning trips in excess of 200 miles. - The busiest time for traffic on the first two days of the holiday will be between 9:00 a.m. and noon. - Friday is the best day to return home from Thanksgiving travel; less than 10% say they'll be traveling that day. - More than 50% of Thanksgiving travelers are planning to return home on Thanksgiving Day, with the greatest percentage traveling after 6:00 p.m. "It's no surprise that the roads are going to be quite busy this holiday weekend, but with online resources like MapQuest.com, traveling can be easier and safer," said Neil Smit, MapQuest.com Chief Operating Officer. "We're hoping our poll helps people pinpoint the best and worst times to travel and gets them to their destinations on time. A little extra help can go a long way in avoiding those dreaded traffic headaches." According to the Travel Industry of America, more than 60% of Internet users in the U.S. go online to make travel plans. Across the Internet, more than 12 million MapQuest maps are downloaded every day, and 7.5 million people use MapQuest.com every month as a travel resource. Throughout the holiday weekend, travelers can continuously check MapQuest.com (www.mapquest.com) for the latest real-time poll results to help them avoid the heaviest travel times. In addition, accurate maps and driving directions are available 24 hours a day. Plus, MapQuest.com also provides live traffic reports for more than 60 U.S. cities and MapQuest's Business Locator can help travelers find places of interest along the way, such as restaurants, stores, and recreational parks. "MapQuest.com is a trusted travel companion for every traveler, whether you're going across town or out of town," added Smit. "And now with more widespread use of wireless applications, we stay with you from start to end of every journey. MapQuest.com is available on the go via Internet-ready cell phones, Palm electronic organizers and other hand-held devices." A Safer Trip with MapQuest.com With a record number of travelers expected to crowd America's highways and byways, it's best to plan ahead to avoid traffic and the added stress of holiday travel. Before hitting the road this Thanksgiving, check in with MapQuest.com to make the trip safer and more enjoyable for the whole family: Familiarize yourself with where you're going so you're not distracted en route. - Map out your travel plans, driving route, and places of interest along the way. - Print out driving directions and maps to take with you for quick reference so you're not flipping through maps while trying to drive. - Plot rest stops and restaurants along your travel route ahead of time. - Check traffic reports before walking out the door and plan route accordingly. Avoid fatigue and stay alert - studies show fatigue is a leading factor in driving accidents. - Get a good night's sleep. - Stop every two hours to help stay alert and break-up the monotony of traveling long distances. - Research appropriate accommodations in advance in case you need a place to stay along the way. Look for ways to make travel as part of the holiday as the end destination itself. - MapQuest.com lists scenic drives to help make your trip an adventure. So go ahead and take the road less traveled. - Make frequent stops interesting, especially when traveling with the kids. MapQuest can help locate historic landmarks, parks and other interesting places to stop. For additional travel tips this Thanksgiving visit MapQuest's Web site at www.mapquest.com. AOL Local Helps People with Their Holiday Happenings In addition to MapQuest.com, AOL's other leading local web destinations are offering a plethora of information people need for where they live and the places they plan to visit this holiday season: AOL's Digital City (www.digitalcity.com), the only local online network to cover every market across the country, offers suggestions and recommendations for more than 600,000 entertainment events and venues and provides fun and comprehensive holiday features for even the most frantic holiday planner. When it comes to holiday meals, Digital City provides a list of stores, bakeries and gourmet shops in town, as well as local restaurants that will be open and serving dinner. People also can turn to Digital City for suggestions on gift-giving, ways to give back to the community by volunteering with local organizations, travel bargains for 60 major markets across the country, and a real-time live concierge service to help with daily tasks and entertainment choices. Going to the movies over the holidays is on almost everyone's wish list, and this year is no exception as moviegoers across the country flood the theaters to see the latest Hollywood releases. AOL Moviefone helps movie fans sort through the movie clutter with complete movie information and showtimes. From a behind the scenes look at Whoville to the tension-filled politics in 13 Days, moviegoers can turn to Moviefone either by phone, online or through wireless devices to: - Find out what movies are playing in their neighborhood and when. - Purchase tickets in advance to avoid a sold-out show. - Read reviews from both critics and real moviegoers or submit their own reviews. - Get detailed information on why movies have been given their ratings. - Watch movie trailers, read the latest movie news, join in a movie chat, enter contests and much more.