AAA: More than 80 million people set to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday

NEW YORK (WABC)– Thanksgiving is always a popular time to travel, but this year may see the most travelers yet.

AAA projects that nearly 80 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more between Tuesday, November 26 and Monday, December 2.

“This is going to set records,” said Stacey Barber, AAA.

Most of these travelers will drive, and a record 71.7 million people are expected to drive to their destination, and they will benefit from lower gas prices this year than last.

“We're looking at an average of $3.26 this holiday season. And we could even see $3 a gallon by Thanksgiving, which is the lowest it's been since 2021,” Barber said.

The tri-state area is already tracking these lower prices, with New Jersey below the $3 mark at $2.89 per gallon.

Air travel is also expected to set a new record.

“So we're going to see a 2.1 percent increase over last year, which will lead to about 5.8 million people flying this holiday season,” Barber said.

In another record, nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel via other modes of transportation, including trains, buses and cruises.

“We're seeing a huge increase in cruises. And a lot of that is because cruises were really the last to pick up post-COVID,” Barber said.

If you're hitting the road for Thanksgiving, the day before Thanksgiving should be the busiest day to go.

“Any time you can leave on Thanksgiving Day and start early in the morning to get to your destination, that's when you'll find the optimal time to hit the road,” Barber said.

When it comes to heading home after the holidays, Sunday evening is expected to be the busiest.

If you're renting a car, here's a tip: reserve the vehicle in advance and arrive early to pick it up.
There may be long queues.

If you're flying: Download the airline's app to check the status of your flight before heading to the airport. Arrive early to account for longer lines at security.

ALSO READ: Best Bets for Holiday Shopping in November and Black Friday

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