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4w ago

AAA Forecasts Record 81.8 Million Thanksgiving Travelers as FAA Restores Normal Flight Schedules

Drivers will make up nearly 90% of trips, with INRIX calling Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons the most congested before a lighter Thanksgiving Day.

In an aerial view, traffic backs up on Highway 101 on November 27, 2024 in San Francisco, California.
In an aerial view, traffic backs up on Interstate 80 on Nov. 27, 2024, in San Francisco.
An image of traffic congestion on a highway in Los Angeles, California.
Image

Overview

  • AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel Nov. 25–Dec. 1, including about 73 million by car, roughly 6 million by air, and nearly 2.5 million by bus, train or cruise, an 8.5% rise for those alternatives.
  • The FAA has lifted emergency flight reductions imposed during the shutdown, allowing airlines to operate regular schedules, though some travelers are still opting for ground transportation.
  • INRIX expects the worst road delays Tuesday (12–9 p.m.) and Wednesday (11 a.m.–8 p.m.), minimal impact on Thanksgiving Day, and heavy return traffic Sunday; the best driving windows are mornings and after 8 p.m. Monday.
  • Hertz says Wednesday is the peak day for rental car pick-ups and AAA reports domestic rental rates are about 15% cheaper than last year, with national gas prices roughly in line with 2024.
  • AAA urges preparation and sober driving after nearly 600,000 roadside calls last Thanksgiving and 868 drunk-driving deaths recorded from 2019–2023, while Florida cities lead domestic bookings and forecasters flag potential pre-holiday storms in parts of the central and southeastern U.S.