Thanksgiving travel: 55 million home for the holidays
About 55.4 million people will head home or on vacation for Thanksgiving this year, according to the AAA.
That would mark a slight increase on last year of 2%.
It is the AAA’s third-highest travel forecast for Thanksgiving this century.
The organization recognizes holiday travel as a journey of 50 miles or more.
“This holiday, we expect more people on the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022,” said Paula Twidale, SVP of AAA Travel.
“Travel demand has been strong all year, and AAA’s Thanksgiving forecast reflects that continued desire to get away.”
Most will drive with 49.1 million taking to the roads, and nearly 5 million will fly between 22-26 November.
Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving are expected to be the busiest outbound air travel days with Sunday busiest for the journey home.
The average airfare for a domestic flight is $681, up around 5% on 2022 but average hotel rates are down 12%.
The number taking a bus or train, or spending the holiday on a cruise ship is up by 11% on last year.
However, travelers are being warned that heavy snowfall could be on the way in parts of the north just before the holidays begin.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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