BUFFALO, N.Y. — As the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaches, many people will begin their holiday travels.
AAA on Monday released data for gas prices and expected travel increases across the country.
AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period (Tuesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 2).
“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 Services. “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.”
By Car
71.7 million people are expected to travel by car, which is an additional 1.3 million travelers on the road compared to 2023. This year's data also surpasses pre-pandemic numbers in 2019 totaling 70.6 million drivers on the road.
Gas prices are also lower this year compared to 2023, according to AAA. The national average for last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26. Regionally, drivers east of the Rockies will find gas between $2.25 to $2.50 a gallon in more than a dozen states, according to AAA.
By Air
Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to set a new record. AAA projects 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday season, an increase of 2% compared to last year and a nearly 11% increase from 2019.
Bus, Train, Cruise
Nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, like buses, cruises, and trains. This category is seeing an increase of almost 9% compared to last year and an 18% jump since 2019. According to AAA, domestic and international cruise bookings are up 20% compared to last Thanksgiving.
More information on AAA travel predictions can be found here.
