AAA: Nearly 82 million Americans expected to travel for Thanksgiving, setting a new record

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) – Nearly 82 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving this year, marking the busiest holiday travel period on record, according to AAA.

AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel between Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Monday, Dec. 1. That’s 1.6 million more travelers than last year and makes Thanksgiving the busiest travel holiday of the year, surpassing Memorial Day and July Fourth.

Road Travel Dominates Holiday Plans

AAA estimates 73.3 million people will travel by car — nearly 90% of all holiday travelers. That number could rise if flight disruptions push more people to drive. Car rentals are also in high demand, with Hertz reporting that Wednesday will be the busiest pick-up day. Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami and Newark are the top rental markets.

Holiday road costs are expected to remain stable. Gas prices are similar to last Thanksgiving, when the national average was $3.06 per gallon. Last year, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 roadside assistance calls during Thanksgiving week, involving dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks.

AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving are again urging motorists to plan ahead and avoid driving impaired. Between 2019 and 2023, 868 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes during Thanksgiving travel periods, representing 35% of all traffic fatalities during that time frame.

Air Travel to See Modest Increase

About 6 million people are expected to fly, a 2% increase from 2024. Recent flight reductions could affect that estimate, as cancellations may force travelers to modify plans. With the exception of 2020, Thanksgiving air travel has consistently ranged from 5 to 6 million passengers annually.

AAA reports that round-trip domestic flights for Thanksgiving are averaging about $700, similar to last year. Flying on Thanksgiving Day is typically cheaper, while Sunday and Monday remain the priciest and busiest return days.

Buses, Trains and Cruises Also on the Rise

Nearly 2.5 million people are expected to travel by bus, rail or cruise — an 8.5% increase. AAA projects 20.7 million Americans will take an ocean cruise this year, with that number expected to rise to 21.7 million in 2026. Thanksgiving cruises, especially to the Caribbean, continue to grow in popularity due to bundled pricing, mild weather and family-friendly activities.

Top Thanksgiving Destinations

AAA booking data shows Florida continues to dominate domestic travel, driven by theme parks and cruise ports. Popular international destinations include cities across Europe, the Caribbean and Australia, where it is currently spring.

Top domestic destinations include Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Anaheim/Los Angeles, Tampa, New York, San Francisco, Honolulu, Las Vegas and Atlanta.

International favorites include Paris, Amsterdam, Vienna, Cancun, Punta Cana, Basel, Sydney, Barcelona, Budapest and Aruba.

Traffic Forecast: Tuesday and Wednesday Expected to Be the Worst

INRIX, a transportation data provider, predicts that Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons will bring the heaviest pre-holiday traffic. Return travel on Sunday is expected to be congested throughout the day.

Drivers are encouraged to travel in the morning to avoid the worst delays and to remain alert for construction, crashes and weather impacts. AAA also reminds drivers to slow down and move over for stopped vehicles and emergency responders.