Thanksgiving Holiday travel projected to be at highest level since pre-COVID year 2019

Some 55.4 million expected to be on road or in the air; a record-setting 30.5 million will be using airlines

By Steve Freker

If you or your family and friends are traveling this Thanksgiving Week, you will be far from alone. The annual AAA travel forecast projects 55.4 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, which began Friday, November 17 and carries to November 28.

This year’s Thanksgiving forecast is higher than last year’s and happens to be the third-highest number since 2000, the first year AAA began tracking the travel figures. It is also expected to be the highest number for a travel year since 2019. The year 2005 was the other major travel year.

“For many Americans, Thanksgiving and travel go hand in hand, and this holiday, we expect more people on the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel.

“Travel demand has been strong all year, and AAA’s Thanksgiving forecast reflects that continued desire to get away and spend time with loved ones,” she added.

AAA projects 49.1 million Americans will be driving, an increase of 1.7% compared to 2022. Part of the reason could be lower gas prices, at $3.30 per gallon nationally ($3.32 in Mass.), down from $3.58 a year ago.

AAA expects 4.7 million people will fly the day before or day of Thanksgiving, an increase of 6.6% compared to 2022 and the highest number of Thanksgiving air travelers since 2005. Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving are the busiest air travel days ahead of the holiday and the most expensive. While Sunday is typically the busiest day to return home, AAA data shows Monday is also a popular day to fly back after Thanksgiving.

The number of people traveling by cruise, bus and train over Thanksgiving is up nearly 11% over last year. AAA expects 1.55 million travelers will head out of town using these other modes of transportation, which took a huge hit during the pandemic but have rebounded nicely.

Transportation data experts expect Wednesday, November 22, to be the busiest day on the roads during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, with average travel times as high as 80% over normal in some metro areas. It is recommended to leave in the morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid the heaviest holiday congestion.

Here are WORST and BEST Times to travel during Thanksgiving travel week:

Wednesday, November 22

WORST: 2:00–6:00 p.m.

BEST: before 11:00 a.m.

Thursday, Nov 23,

Thanksgiving Day

WORST: 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

BEST: before 10:00 a.m., after 5:00 p.m.

Friday, Nov 24

WORST: 12:00–4:00 p.m.

BEST: before 11:00 a.m., after 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Nov 25

WORST: 3:00–5:00 p.m.

BEST: before 12:00 p.m.

Sunday, Nov 26

WORST: 1:00–5:00 p.m.

BEST: before 12:00 p.m.