Cheaper gas fuels jump in Thanksgiving travel

Holiday travel in Iowa and across the nation is predicted to be up this year over Thanksgiving as travelers can expect to see lower gas prices, busy roads and airports — and potential weather delays.

AAA predicts 79.9 million people nationally will travel 50 miles or more between Tuesday and Dec. 2, breaking last year’s record high during that period by 1.7 million people, according to a news release from the motor club federation.

Of those 79.9 million predicted travelers, 6.4 million will be from AAA’s West North Central Region, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. That’s 124,000 more than last year, and an all-time high for Thanksgiving travel in the region.

Cars will be the most popular mode of travel, with an estimated 5.8 million people in the region driving to their destination, while another 296,000 in the region are expected to be flying.

Travel by trains, buses and cruises will see a jump this year nationally, and Brian Ortner, the AAA spokesperson for the West North Central Region, said that increase in what’s classified as “other” forms of travel is especially high in this region.

“I’m sure part of that is … we don’t have oceans. We don’t have the 80-degree, clear blue water to enjoy around Thanksgiving. We’re lucky to have snow right now. I would imagine that being in the sunshine with the clear blue water is a great driver for why people want to take a cruise for the holidays, and that’s why the numbers are going up in this region,” Ortner said.

Traveling by car

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says that Thanksgiving Day itself is the best day to travel if you’re looking for clear roads. But if you’d rather spend the whole day with family, your best bet is to avoid Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.

For those returning Dec. 1, INRIX suggests leaving early that Sunday.

“With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement.

Gas prices are lower going into this holiday season than in 2023, with a possibility of the average price nationally being below $3 per gallon by Thanksgiving Day. Last year, the cost of gas on Thanksgiving was $3.26 per gallon.

As of Friday the average cost of gas is $2.77 per gallon in Iowa. A year ago on the same date, the cost was $2.95, according to Ortner.

“Gas prices are definitely in favor of the consumer this year,” Ortner said. “It’s a money saver, which is great to see.”

To see up-to-date gas price averages, drivers can check gasprices.aaa.com.

The Iowa Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau is working with law enforcement across the state to promote road safety during the holiday week, and drivers can expect to see increased police presence on roads through Dec. 1, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

In 2023, 34 people died or suffered severe injuries on Iowa roads during Thanksgiving week, and 40 percent of them were not properly wearing a seat belt, a public safety news release states.

“The Thanksgiving holiday marks the beginning of a cherished season for many,” Marigrace Porcelli, occupant protection program coordinator with the safety bureau, said in a statement. “Whether your journey is short or long, it’s essential all drivers and passengers buckle up — Every Trip, Every Time. Ensure every passenger in your vehicle is secured, including children.”

Traveling by air

The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids is expecting to see about 3,000 passengers leaving the airport Wednesday, which is about 1,000 more than travel on an average Wednesday, according Pam Hinman, the marketing and communications director for the airport.

Nationally, the Transportation Security Administration expects to screen more than 18.3 million people between Tuesday and Dec. 2, the agency said in a news release. A record for people screened in a single day was set July 7, when there were 2.9 million passengers screened. The TSA expects it may beat that record on one of the days surrounding Thanksgiving this year.

“As we approach Thanksgiving, TSA is ready to accommodate record passenger volumes,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement. “The 10 busiest travel days in TSA’s history have all occurred in 2024, and we anticipate that trend to continue.”

He said the agency will staff up and try to maintain its wait time standards: less than 10 minutes for TSA PreCheck lanes and less than 30 minutes for standard lanes.

Hinman said the Cedar Rapids airport recommends passengers arrive at least 90 minutes before their flight is scheduled to take off to account for any potential issues with parking, checking bags or security screening. The airport recently opened additional parking areas, so Hinman said she doesn’t anticipate major difficulties with finding parking, but she still recommends arriving early to be safe.

Other tips for successful flight travel include checking airline regulations for when bags must be checked by, and downloading the airline app to have easier access to boarding passes and see any late changes.

If you are traveling with gifts, Hinman recommends leaving them unwrapped until after arriving at your destination, as sometimes TSA officers will need to unwrap them for an extra security check.

“Patience is always important. Everybody’s doing their very best to get you to your destination, so we want to make sure that we practice kindness and patience,” Hinman said.

Weather predictions for Thanksgiving week

A couple of storm systems could impact the Midwest during Thanksgiving week, according to Brian Pierce, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Quad Cities Bureau.

“There is considerable uncertainty on the track of those systems and what the potential impacts could possibly be,” Pierce said.

There is a possibility of snow, but Pierce said it likely wouldn’t stick around long. Ground temperatures haven’t yet dropped to match the cold air temperatures that have started showing up in the last few weeks, meaning any snow will probably melt quickly, and not leave much ice on the roads.

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