Nearly 82 million Americans are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday.
AAA this week projected that 81.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday, Nov. 25, to Monday, Dec. 1. This year’s domestic travel forecast included an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record.
Some of those travelers may switch their mode of transportation as the holiday approaches, if flight reductions remained a concern, AAA representatives suggested.
Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel, compared to others including Memorial Day and July 4.
“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, vice president of AAA Travel. “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.”
Thanksgiving travelers by mode of transportation
Most Thanksgiving travelers are expected to travel via car.
AAA projected at least 73 million people will travel by car. That’s nearly 90 percent of Thanksgiving travelers. That figure could end up being higher if air travelers whose flights are canceled, or people who want to avoid airports, decide to drive. This year, AAA projected an additional 1.3 million travelers on the road compared to last Thanksgiving, but given recent flight reductions, they said early this week, that number could be higher.
For travelers who are renting cars, Hertz representatives said Wednesday is expected to be the busiest pick-up day. The Top 5 markets with the highest demand are Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami and Newark. According to AAA booking data, domestic car rentals are 15 percent cheaper this Thanksgiving compared to last year.
At the pump, drivers are paying about the same as last year, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.06 on Thanksgiving Day. Filling the tank is a good idea the night before a road trip, AAA representatives advised, since it’s one less thing to do on travel day.
AAA also recommended checking the car’s battery and tire pressure. Last Thanksgiving holiday period, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks.
As drivers prepare to get behind the wheel, AAA and MADD reminded travelers about the dangers of impaired driving. This time of year can be particularly deadly on the roads, they noted.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2019 to 2023, the death toll in drunk-driving crashes during Thanksgiving festivities was 868, representing more than one third (35 percents) of all fatalities in traffic crashes during that holiday period. Have a plan in place before Thanksgiving, and use a rideshare, designate a sober driver, or take public transit to ensure everyone’s safety, they urged.
According to AAA, 6 million U.S. travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday period, a 2 percent increase compared to 2024. Given recent flight reductions, that number could end up being lower, they said, as flights get canceled or travelers make other plans. The number of Thanksgiving air travelers over the past several years — with the exception of 2020 — has been between 5 million and 6 million.
According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their Thanksgiving trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $700, which is similar to last year. It’s cheaper to fly on Thanksgiving Day itself, but the flight home is what drives up the ticket price, since Sunday and Monday are the busiest return days. Some travelers shorten or extend their Thanksgiving trips to avoid flying on peak days.
Travel by other modes is expected to increase by 8.5 percent, to nearly 2.5 million people. Those travelers are taking trips by bus, train and cruise. Buses and trains could see an uptick in last-minute bookings this year, AAA representatives said.
Cruising is building on its record post-pandemic growth. This year alone, AAA is projecting 20.7 million American cruise passengers. That number is even higher for 2026, with AAA forecasting 21.7 million U.S. travelers taking ocean cruises. Cruise vacations are appealing during Thanksgiving, especially to the Caribbean, because the weather is mild, the trip is paid in advance, and families can bring grandparents and kids, and everyone is entertained.
The top holiday destinations, based on AAA booking data for the Thanksgiving travel period, included Florida as the most popular domestic destination, thanks to the area’s theme parks and cruise ports. The international list is a mix of Europe, the Caribbean and Australia for its warm spring weather this time of year.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday expected to be most traveled days
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, said they expect Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to be the most congested periods before Thanksgiving Day. Travelers returning home on Sunday should expect heavy traffic most of the day, they said.
Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst backups, but keep in mind construction, crashes or severe weather could impact travel times, they advised.
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