Each long holiday weekend means millions of Americans will be looking to spend time with family and friends. Some of those folks don’t live nearby, and AAA expects new records will be set by those looking to travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Nearly 80 million Americans are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
In fact, AAA predicts nearly 80 million people will climb behind the wheel or use some other method of transportation to see loved ones this coming holiday weekend. The expected 79.9 million travelers will exceed last year’s total by 1.7 million.
“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel.
“Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”
Packed roadways
Of the nearly 80 million, the overwhelming majority — 71.7 million — will clamber into some form of automobile. Again, that surpasses last year’s total by 1.3 million and reflects that Americans appear to be “back to normal” again. The year before the COVID pandemic, 70.6 million Americans drove to their Thanksgiving destinations, AAA noted.
One of the upsides of driving is that in addition to avoiding long security lines at the airport, gas is cheaper this year.
The national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26. Falling oil prices this autumn may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, and that could happen before drivers hit the road for Thanksgiving. Regionally, drivers east of the Rockies will find gas between $2.25 to $2.50 a gallon in more than a dozen states.
Cheaper gas
GasBuddy.com forecasts that the national average gas price will be approximately $2.98 per gallon, down slightly from the current national average of $3.02 per gallon. Most survey respondents plan to start their Thanksgiving travel on Wednesday, 11/27, leaving in the early morning.
“Americans are eager to get back on the road and visit loved ones this Thanksgiving, with the vast majority choosing the flexibility and convenience of driving, as gas prices have fallen below $3 in over half of the nation’s states,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
“While a few travelers feel discouraged by current gas prices, our data shows most people are undeterred and willing to absorb the extra costs to reunite with family over the holiday. Gas prices have fallen nearly 70 cents from the summer high to their lowest level since 2021, and should provide some relief for Thanksgiving travelers. We expect prices to remain seasonally low leading up to the holidays, making road trips a more affordable option for millions of Americans.”
When to go and what else to know
While most folks head out the day before Thanksgiving, transportation data provider Inrix suggests getting up early on Turkey Day and heading out to avoid traffic.
Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road.
“With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at Inrix. “This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, LA, Seattle, and Washington, DC, where traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day.”
Other interesting notes about holiday travel this year, include:
- Of those not traveling by car, 10% plan to fly and 87% are not traveling at all.
- The top reasons for not traveling include having nowhere to go (33%), high fuel prices (16%), and travel not being in their budget (19%).
- Most (60%) of those driving this year also drove last year, citing the flexibility of road trips (48%) and proximity to their destination (39%) as the primary factors.
- The majority (60%) expect to spend 1-6 hours in the car, with two-thirds (66%) driving more than 100 miles.
- 56% will be crossing state lines during their road trip, and 68% plan to use loyalty or cash back programs to save on fuel
The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as the seven-day period from Tuesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 2.
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