This Thanksgiving is poised to be the busiest on record, with nearly 80 million Americans expected to travel, an increase from last year's 78.2 million, according to AAA. This year’s figure also surpasses the pre-pandemic record set in 2019 by 2 million travelers.
“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.”
Driving remains the preferred mode of travel with an anticipated 71.7 million people traveling by car, a surge from last year and a new record over the 70.6 million who drove during the 2019 holiday season. This increase is partly attributed to the drop in gas prices, which are expected to fall below $3 a gallon nationally, down from last year’s average of $3.26 on Thanksgiving Day.
In addition to road travel, air travel is seeing a bump, with 5.84 million expected to fly, a 2% increase from last year and an 11% jump from 2019. Air travelers are paying slightly more this year, with domestic flight prices up by 3%, while international fares have decreased by 5%, contributing to a 23% rise in international bookings compared to last Thanksgiving.
Other modes of travel such as buses, cruises and trains are also experiencing a rise, with nearly 2.3 million travelers anticipated, up almost 9% from last year and 18% from 2019. The resurgence of cruising has significantly influenced this growth, with bookings up by 20%.
Travel analysts like Bob Pishue from INRIX highlight the importance of planning ahead to avoid peak travel times, especially in major metropolitan areas. The worst times to travel by car are projected to be Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving, with the best times being early Thanksgiving Day and the early mornings of the following Monday and Tuesday.
The top domestic travel destinations this Thanksgiving include warm-weather locales like Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, along with perennial favorites such as New York and Las Vegas. Internationally, popular spots include Budapest, Cancun and Rome.
