BUFFALO, N.Y. — AAA recently released its Thanksgiving travel forecast, and yes, the group expects another record year when it comes to people travel, with nearly 80 million Americans going somewhere.
"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," Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel Services, said recently. "Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that."
Here are some numbers to keep in mind as Thanksgiving draws near:
- 79.9 million — That's the number of people expected to travel at least 50 miles away from home this weekend.
- 71.7 million — That's the number of people expected to drive, up 1.3 million from last year.
- 5.84 million — That's the number of people expected to fly domestically this week.
- 2.3 million — That's the number of people expected to use other forms of transportation, such as trains, buses, and cruises, up 9 percent from 2023.
- $3.26 — That was the national average of gas on Thanksgiving Day one year ago.
- $3 — Gas could soon hit $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021. Lower gas prices are driving travel plans.
There are a few other things to remember this week.
If you're driving, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon are expected to be the worst times to hit the road. You'll find interstates and highways largely clear if you can wait until Thanksgiving Day to reach your destination.
Obviously, winter weather storms could introduce delays, so check your forecasts.
“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,” Bob Pishue — a transportation analyst at INRIX, which provides transportation data and insights — said in a statement.
“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.”