This Thanksgiving, a record-breaking 79.9 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home, according to AAA. This figure, which includes the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving, represents an increase of 1.7 million people compared to last year and two million more than in 2019.
“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.
AAA projects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving, while 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday, a 2% increase compared to last year and a nearly 11% increase over 2019.
Nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. This category is seeing an increase of almost 9% compared to last year and an 18% jump over 2019, in large part due to the popularity of cruising.
Gas prices are expected to be lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. 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.
The busiest times to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself, when interstates and highways are typically clear. 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.
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