AAA forecasts record 81.8 million Americans for Thanksgiving travel

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A record 81.8 million Americans are projected to travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, according to AAA. The forecast marks a 1.6 million-person increase over last year, setting a new overall record for the holiday.

The travel period is defined as Tuesday, Nov. 25, to Monday, Dec. 1.

“Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel, in a statement Monday.

Road trips will dominate, with AAA projecting 73 million people traveling by car. This is 1.3 million more than last year and accounts for nearly 90% of all holiday travelers. The report noted this number could rise as some travelers switch from air to car following recent flight cancellations.

Gas prices are expected to be similar to last year, when the national average was $3.06 per gallon on Thanksgiving Day.

Air travel is forecast to increase by 2% over 2024, with 6 million Americans expected to fly. AAA data shows the average domestic roundtrip flight costs $700, which is comparable to last year.

Travel by other modes, including buses, trains, and cruises, is also expected to see a significant 8.5% jump, accounting for nearly 2.5 million travelers.

For those driving, transportation data firm INRIX warns that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will be the most congested periods. Sunday is expected to have heavy traffic for most of the day as travelers return home.

According to AAA booking data, the most popular domestic destinations are in Florida, with Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami topping the list. Paris, Amsterdam, and Vienna are the top international destinations.

---