AAA: Thanksgiving Travel Will Increase for 7th Straight Year

AURORA, Ill. — Approximately 46.9 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during this Thanksgiving holiday, according to an AAA Travel forecast. This marks the seventh consecutive year of growth for Thanksgiving travel since 2007 and represents a 0.6-percent increase over 2014.

The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 29.

“This Thanksgiving, more Americans will carve out time to visit friends and family since 2007,” said Marshall Doney, president and CEO of AAA. “While many people remain cautious about the economy and their finances, many thankful Americans continue to put a premium on traveling to spend the holiday with loved ones.”

Other highlights from AAA’s Thanksgiving travel forecast include:

• Approximately 89 percent of holiday travelers will be driving this Thanksgiving holiday.
• Holiday roadtrips will increase with 42 million Americans traveling, an increase of 0.7 percent over 2014.
• Air travel will also increase by 0.1 percent, with 3.6 million Americans flying to their holiday destinations.
• According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, airfares are projected to decrease 10 percent this Thanksgiving.
• Other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will decrease 1.4 percent this Thanksgiving to 1.4 million travelers.

“One holiday gift has come early this year. Americans will likely pay the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2008,” Doney explained. “Lower prices are helping boost disposable income and enabling families to kick off the holiday season with a Thanksgiving getaway.”

AAA estimates consumers are saving $265 million on gasoline every day compared to 2014. The current national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.15, 65 cents less than the average price on Thanksgiving last year ($2.80).