On this Thanksgiving holiday, AAA projects nearly 80 million travelers will travel 50 miles or more from home, marking a record-breaking travel season. For the first time, AAA's forecasts extend over From the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to the following Mondayreflecting the prolonged flow of holiday travel. This year's estimate represents an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to 2023 and 2 million more than in 2019.
Orlando tops the list of domestic travel destinations, with millions of Americans reconnecting with family and friends during the busiest travel holidays. “Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday in travel, and this year we plan to set new records in everything from driving to flying to cruising,” said Stacey Barbiervice president of AAA Travel. “Post-pandemic, travel demand continues to skyrocket as people seek memorable vacation experiences. »
Traveling by car
AAA anticipates 71.7 million people will travel by carsurpassing pre-pandemic numbers from 2019. Lower gas prices this season add to the appeal of road trips. The national gasoline average could drop below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, with prices in some regions, like states east of the Rockies, falling between $2.25 and $2.50 per gallon.
Demand for car rentals is also high, with cities like Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando and Phoenix seeing the most activity. The busiest car pick-up day should be Wednesday before Thanksgivingwhile the days of highest rental yield will be the Monday and Tuesday after.
Traveling by plane
Air travel is also expected to break records, with 5.84 million Americans traveling domesticallyan increase of 2% compared to last year and almost 11% more than in 2019. International flight bookings jumped by 23%partly due to a 5% drop in ticket prices for international destinations.
Traveling by other modes
Approximately 2.3 million travelers will use other modes of transportation such as buses, trains and cruises. This category has increased by 9% compared to last year And 18% compared to 2019fueled by the growing popularity of cruising. Domestic and international cruise bookings are on the rise 20% starting Thanksgiving 2023.
The best and worst times to travel
Transportation data provider INRIX warns that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon will be the most congested times for driving. Thanksgiving Day offers the clearest roads, while Sunday travelers are encouraged to leave early in the morning to avoid delays.
“With record numbers of travelers on the road, it is critical to use traffic apps and stay informed with local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. It recommends increased caution in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle and Washington, D.C., where traffic congestion could more than double that of a typical day.
Whether by car, plane or cruise, Thanksgiving 2024 is shaping up to be a record-breaking event, highlighting America's love of travel and the enduring tradition of gathering with loved ones during the holiday.
