Summary:
- AAA: 81.8 million Americans are projected to travel for Thanksgiving.
- The majority of travelers, estimated at 73 million, will be driving.
- Orlando, Florida, is the top destination.
A RECORD 81.8 MILLION Americans to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving period from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, according to AAA Travel. The travel agency also forecasted 1.6 million more travelers than last year.
AAA projects that most people will drive as the report projects 73 million travelers by car, nearly 90 percent of the total. That number could grow if some flyers switch to road trips due to recent airline cancellations, according to the report.
“Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” said Stacey Barber, AAA Travel’s vice president. “People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends.”
Air travel is expected to reach 6 million domestic passengers, a 2 percent increase from last year. Fares are averaging around $700 for roundtrips, with Thanksgiving Day offering the cheapest departures. Sunday and Monday continue to be the busiest, which pushes prices up as travelers either shorten or extend trips to avoid the rush.
Travel by bus, train and cruise lines is set to rise to 2.5 million travelers. Cruise demand remains strong, with AAA expecting 20.7 million Americans to sail this year and even higher numbers next year. Thanksgiving cruises—especially to the Caribbean—are popular for their predictable weather and family-friendly setup.
The top five destinations in the U.S. are Orlando, Florida; Atlanta; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; and Newark, New Jersey. The Thanksgiving forecast comes from economic data, travel trends and historical volumes tracked by AAA and S&P Global Market Intelligence.
A recent survey by Deloitte found that more than half of Americans plan to travel between Thanksgiving and early January for the first time in at least five years.
