Here’s how many people AAA predicts will travel over Thanksgiving

(WFSB) – AAA released its travel predictions for the Thanksgiving holiday period.

The auto club forecasted 79.9 million Americans would travel, which would exceed pre-pandemic numbers and set a new record.

AAA projected that those people would go at least 50 miles from home over the holiday travel period, which for the first time this year is considered Tuesday to Monday.

The projection of nearly 80 million travelers was an increase of 1.7 million people compared to last year and 2 million more than in 2019, AAA said.

“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, vice president, AAA Travel. “Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”

AAA predicted that a record 71.7 million people would travel by car. Gas prices have been lower than last year. By Nov. 28, the national average could dip below $3 for a gallon of regular gas.

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By air, AAA predicted 5.84 million travelers.

Nearly 2.3 million people were expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. AAA said the category has been seeing an increase of almost 9 percent compared to last year and an 18 percent jump over 2019, in large part due to the popularity of cruising.

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