AAA: Nearly 80 Million Americans Expected to Travel over Thanksgiving

This year’s extended AAA holiday forecast exceeds pre-pandemic numbers, sets new record

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WASHINGTON, DC – AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.

For the first time, AAA’s forecast includes the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving Day to better capture the flow of holiday travelers.

This year’s project of nearly 80 million travelers is an increase of 1.7 million people compared to last year and 2 million more than in 2019.

AAA projects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving, up 1.3 million travelers on the road compared to last year.

Gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. The national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26. Falling oil prices this fall may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021.

Thanksgiving air travel is expected to set a new record with 5.84 million people projected to fly domestically this holiday. That’s an increase of two percent compared to last year.

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says the worst times to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when interstates and highways are typically clear. Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road. 

“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.”