AAA Releases its Thanksgiving Travel Forecast
AAA has released its annual Thanksgiving travel forecast this week in anticipation of one of the busiest travel times of the year.
AAA is estimating that an astounding 54.6 million people in the US will be traveling 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, a 1.5% increase over last year and representative of 98% of pre-pandemic volume.
As always, most are expected to hit the roads with 49 million expected to travel by car this year. This reflects a modest 0.4% increase from last year but it is still 2.5% shy of 2019.
INRIX, a private company that provides historical and real-time location-based data and analytics, predicts severe congestion in metro areas. They are warning drivers to expect up to double the normal delays in the most populated areas of the country like New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
To help circumvent those delays, experts recommend that you leave early in the morning on Wednesday, Nov. 23, or before 11 am on Thanksgiving Day, and avoid driving between 4 and 8 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
“Families and friends are eager to spend time together this Thanksgiving, one of the busiest for travel in the past two decades,” said Paula Twidale, AAA’s Senior Vice President of Travel. “Plan ahead and pack your patience, whether you’re driving or flying.”
Speaking of flying, air travel is up nearly 8% over 2021, with 4.5 million Americans flying to their Thanksgiving destinations this year. That’s an increase of more than 330,000 travelers and nearly 99% of the 2019 volume.
“Airport parking spaces fill up fast, so reserve a spot ahead of time and arrive early,” Twidale suggests. “Anticipate long TSA lines. If possible, avoid checking a bag to allow for more flexibility if flights are delayed or you need to reschedule.”
AAA is also seeing an increase in travel by bus, train and cruise ship with 1.4 million travelers utilizing these modes of transportation this Turkey Day. That’s a massive increase of 23% from last year comprising 96% of the 2019 volume, likely as a result of eased restrictions and comfort with public transport post-pandemic.
As you can see, this is expected to be a Thanksgiving for the record books, at least travel-wise. If at all possible, it is recommended that you travel at off-peak times to reduce delays and frustration. If you can’t, however, be sure to bring a sense of calm, lots of patience, and a sense of humor. It’ll all be worth it when you get there.
