Thanksgiving may come with a heaping side of travel headaches this year. In its annual travel forecast, the American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts that 55.4 million people—2.3 percent more than last year—will venture more than 50 miles from home this year. (The forecast tracks trends during the five-day period from the Wednesday before the holiday through the Sunday after.) To put this into perspective, it marks the third busiest year since the association started tracking data in 2000.
“Despite consumer confidence waning in recent months, travel has not slowed,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel tells Condé Nast Traveler. She also shared some insight in a press release from the company: “For many Americans, Thanksgiving and travel go hand in hand, and this holiday, we expect more people on the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022.”
Airports Will Be the Busiest Since 2005
Air travel continues to rise, with 4.7 million Americans predicted to take to the skies—that’s 6.6 percent more than last year and the highest since 2005.
“Thanksgiving is a very condensed holiday and travelers prefer to spend more time with their families than being on the road,” Twidale says. “An 8- to 12-hour car journey can be flown in about one to 1.5 hours, which means more time to enjoy holiday plans.”
The growth comes despite higher price tags with domestic flights spiking 5 percent from last year, resulting in an average cost of $681. Those looking to escape the country might save a bit since international flights are down 5.7 percent from 2022‚ yet the costs remain high with an average of $1,231.
While the Wednesday before Thanksgiving historically has been one of the busiest air travel days of the year, the Tuesday prior is also catching up, with prices matching the demand.
“Now with hybrid schedules and the ability to work remotely, more people are taking advantage of the jumpstart, so Tuesday is busier,” she says, pointing out that some school districts have now eliminated Wednesday classes, opening up the option for families to leave Tuesday after school to build in a buffer. “No one wants to get delayed the day before Thanksgiving and run the risk of missing the turkey and festivities.”
