The busiest travel holiday is expected to be even busier this year.
AAA is projecting that 79.9 million travelers will venture 50 or more miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.
This year’s travel load is an increase of 1.7 million people over last year and 2 million more than in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic thwarted most traveling, officials said in a release on the agency’s website.
They note this year for the first time that the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving Day are being included in the holiday travel period to better represent the flow of travelers.
“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”
Gas prices
Gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023, officials report.
The national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26.
“Americans are eager to get back on the road and visit loved ones this Thanksgiving, with the vast majority choosing the flexibility and convenience of driving, as gas prices have fallen below $3 in over half of the nation’s states,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.
“While a few travelers feel discouraged by current gas prices, our data shows most people are undeterred and willing to absorb the extra costs to reunite with family over the holiday,” he said. “Gas prices have fallen nearly 70 cents from the summer high to their lowest level since 2021, and should provide some relief for Thanksgiving travelers. We expect prices to remain seasonally low leading up to the holidays, making road trips a more affordable option for millions of Americans.”
Average prices according to AAA as of Monday:
• Nation: $3.05
• Pennsylvania: $3.24
• Berks County: $3.19
• Montgomery County: $3.14
• Chester County: $3.15
• Delaware County: $3.15
• Lehigh County: $3.13
• Schuylkill County: $3.13
Travel modes
AAA projects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving, an increase of 1.3 million travelers compared to last year.
This year’s number also surpasses pre-pandemic numbers when 70.6 million people drove to their Thanksgiving destinations in 2019.
Thanksgiving air travel is also expected to set a record. AAA projects 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday. That’s an increase of 2% compared to last year and a nearly 11% increase over 2019.
According to AAA booking data, air travelers are paying 3% more for domestic Thanksgiving flights this year, while the number of flight bookings is similar to last year.
International flight bookings are up 23% compared to last Thanksgiving, partly because the cost to fly internationally is down 5%.
Nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises and trains.
This group is seeing an increase of almost 9% compared to last year and an 18% jump over 2019, in large part due to the popularity of cruising. Domestic and international cruise bookings are up 20% compared to last Thanksgiving.
At the airports
The Transportation Security Administration says it is prepared for the busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record at airports, projecting it will screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday to Monday. That’s an increase of about 6% from 2023. Passenger volumes have reached record highs in 2024, with an increase of 17% since 2022.
Officials expect the three busiest travel days will be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday. The agency expects to screen more than 2.8 million people on Tuesday, 2.9 million on Wednesday and more than 3 million on Sunday.
Officials said the agency has screened more than 2.9 million passengers on multiple days this year, with the heaviest passenger volume in the agency’s history on July 7, when officers screened more than 3 million people at airport security checkpoints nationwide
The agency reminds passengers that all liquids, gels and aerosols must be 3.4 ounces or less when packed in a carry-on bag. Certain foods, such as gravy, cranberry sauce, wine, jam and preserves – which are considered liquids or gels – must be packed in a checked bag if they exceed 3.4 ounces.
Passengers may bring solid foods such as cakes and other baked goods through checkpoints. Check for prohibited items by using the What Can I Bring? page on TSA.gov or just ask @AskTSA.
Travel times
The worst times to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, according to INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights.
The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day when interstates and highways are typically clear.
Drivers returning home Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back Monday should expect a mix of travelers and commuters on the road.
“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,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX.
The breakdown for traveling:
• Tuesday: Worst between 1 and 7 p.m.; best before 10 a.m.
• Wednesday: Worst between 1 and 5 p.m.; best before 10 a.m.
• Thursday: Minimal traffic impact expected
• Friday: Worst between 7 and 10 a.m.; best after 1 p.m.
• Saturday: Worst between 4 and 8 p.m.; best before 1 p.m.
• Sunday: Worst between noon and 6 p.m.; best before 1 p.m.
• Monday: Worst between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.; best before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
PA Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike officials are expecting 3.41 million travelers will use the toll road between Tuesday and Sunday. That is a slight increase over last year.
Daily projections:
• Tuesday: 635,000
• Wednesday: 680,000
• Thursday: 495,000
• Friday: 545,000
• Saturday: 525,000
Weather
AccuWeather says there is potential for holiday travel disruptions from a storm later this week, with rain forecast for Thanksgiving Day.
Tuesday: Windy; a couple of showers in the morning followed by clouds giving way to some sun in the afternoon, high 58.
Wednesday: Cooler with times of clouds and sun, high 47.
Thursday: Rain, high 47.
Friday: Clouds and sun, high 45.
Saturday: Breezy with times of clouds and sun, high 40.
Sunday: Cold with increasing amounts of sun, high 35.
Monday: Partly sunny, high 39.