BALTIMORE, MD—The annual Thanksgiving travel survey from GasBuddy reveals that 72% of Americans are planning to hit the road for the holiday, marking a significant comeback from the pandemic years. This represents a 75% increase compared to 2023, when only 41% opted for road trips.

The recent decline in gas prices is a contributing factor to the resurgence of road trips. This year’s figures are nearing pre-pandemic levels, with 65% of Americans driving for Thanksgiving in 2019.

Gas prices have dropped nearly 70 cents from their summer peak to their lowest level since 2021, offering relief to Thanksgiving travelers. GasBuddy anticipates that prices will remain seasonally low through the holidays, making road trips more affordable for millions of Americans.

According to GasBuddy, the national average gas price is forecasted to be around $2.98 per gallon during the Thanksgiving travel period, a slight decrease from the current national average of $3.02 per gallon.

The majority of survey respondents (60%) plan to embark on their Thanksgiving journeys on Wednesday, November 27, preferring to leave early in the morning.

“Americans are eager to get back on the road and visit loved ones this Thanksgiving, with the vast majority choosing the flexibility and convenience of driving, as gas prices have fallen below $3 in over half of the nation’s states,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

For those choosing not to travel by car, 10% plan to fly, while 87% will not be traveling at all. The top reasons cited for not traveling include a lack of destination (33%), high fuel prices (16%), and budget constraints (19%).

Among those driving this Thanksgiving, 60% also drove last year, emphasizing the flexibility and proximity to their destinations as key factors. The majority of these drivers (60%) anticipate spending between one and six hours in the car, with two-thirds (66%) driving over 100 miles. Furthermore, 56% will be crossing state lines during their road trips, and 68% plan to utilize loyalty or cash back programs to save on fuel.

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

Photo by Taras Makarenko from Pexels