BALTIMORE, MD—AAA forecasts that nearly 80 million Americans will travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, setting a new record for the busiest holiday travel period. This projection, released on November 18, 2024, represents a 1.7 million increase from last year and surpasses pre-pandemic levels.

The surge in travel is attributed to strong post-pandemic demand for reunions with family and friends, according to AAA Vice President of Travel, Stacey Barber. The holiday period, defined by AAA as the Tuesday before to the Monday after Thanksgiving, will see a record 71.7 million people traveling by car, an increase of 1.3 million from 2023. This surpasses the 70.6 million who drove to their Thanksgiving destinations in 2019.

Air travel is also expected to reach a new record, with AAA projecting 5.84 million domestic fliers, a 2% increase from last year and a nearly 11% rise from 2019. Despite a 3% increase in domestic flight prices, bookings are comparable to last year. International flight bookings, however, are up 23%, fueled by a 5% decrease in costs.

The remaining 2.3 million travelers will choose alternative modes of transportation, such as buses, cruises, and trains. This category marks a significant increase, with nearly 9% more travelers compared to last year and an 18% jump from 2019. AAA highlights the post-pandemic surge in cruise demand, noting a 20% increase in both domestic and international bookings compared to last Thanksgiving.

Gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving than in 2023. While the national average gas price on Thanksgiving Day last year was $3.26, falling oil prices could lead to the national average dropping below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021. Drivers east of the Rockies pay $2.25 to $2.50 per gallon in more than a dozen states.

Popular destinations for Thanksgiving travel, according to AAA car rental partner Hertz, include Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando, and Phoenix. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is expected to be the busiest car pick-up day, followed by Monday and Tuesday for returns.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo by Taras Makarenko from Pexels