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1h ago

Record 81.8 Million Thanksgiving Travelers Expected, With Roads Carrying the Load

The FAA has lifted emergency flight reductions, giving airlines normal schedules ahead of the holiday.

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 roughly 73 million people will drive during Nov. 25–Dec. 1, with Tuesday–Wednesday afternoons and the Sunday return expected to be the worst traffic windows and mornings the best times to go.
  • About 6 million travelers are expected to fly domestically, up about 2% from last year, though some may switch to driving after recent disruptions tied to the shutdown.
  • Rental car demand peaks on Wednesday, with rates about 15% cheaper than last year, while national gas prices are holding near last Thanksgiving at around $3.06–$3.07 per gallon.
  • Travel by bus, train and cruise is forecast to rise to nearly 2.5 million people, and AAA booking data shows Florida cities leading domestic destinations, with Paris, Cancun and Sydney popular abroad.
  • AAA urges preparation and sober driving after nearly 600,000 roadside calls last Thanksgiving, citing NHTSA data on 868 drunk-driving deaths over recent holiday periods and noting early forecasts of possible central U.S. storms.