The upcoming Thanksgiving holiday is expected to see a significant increase in the number of travelers hitting the road and taking to the skies. According to AAA, nearly 80 million people are projected to travel over Thanksgiving, marking a rise of 1.7 million compared to the previous year. This surge in travel can be attributed to the inclusion of two extra travel days this year.
For those opting to travel by car, more than 71 million individuals are anticipated to embark on road trips during the holiday period. The current decline in gas prices offers a welcome reprieve for budget-conscious travelers, with AAA predicting that the national average price per gallon will fall below $3 for the first time since 2021. Last Thanksgiving, the national average stood at $3.26.
Stacey Barber, the vice president of AAA Travel Services, highlighted that Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest holiday for travel and expressed expectations of setting new records this year across various modes of transportation, including driving, flying, and cruising.
Travelers planning to fly should be prepared for potential delays, particularly in the Northeast, due to reported air traffic controller shortages as indicated by the Federal Aviation Administration. Additionally, air travel costs are expected to be moderately higher this year. Domestic airfares are averaging around $284, reflecting a 9% increase from the previous year, while international trips, such as those to popular European Thanksgiving destinations, are approximately 20% more expensive compared to last year.
