AAA: Nearly 82 Million Americans Projected to Travel Over Thanksgiving  

AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period, from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec.1. This year’s domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record.  

“Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel and has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” said Jillian Young, director of public relations for AAA Northeast. “It doesn’t come as a surprise that people are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans, if needed.” 

Thanksgiving Travelers by Mode of Transportation 

By Car

AAA projects at least 73 million people — nearly 90% of Thanksgiving travelers — will travel by car. That figure is an increase of 1.3 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving. It could be higher if people who want to avoid airports on the heels of recent flight cancellations decide to drive. 

For travelers who are renting cars, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Wednesday, Nov. 26, is expected to be the busiest pick-up day. AAA booking data shows that domestic car rentals are 15% cheaper than last year. 

At the pump, drivers are paying about the same as last year. Filling the tank the night before a road trip is a good idea, since it’s one less thing to worry about on travel day. AAA also recommends checking your battery and tire pressure. AAA responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls last Thanksgiving period to help drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks. 

As travelers prepare to get behind the wheel, AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) remind drivers about the dangers of impaired driving. Drunk driving contributed to 868 fatalities during the Thanksgiving holiday period from 2019 to 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Have a plan in place before Thanksgiving and use a rideshare, designate a sober driver or take public transit to ensure everyone’s safety. 

By Air

Over the Thanksgiving holiday period, 6 million U.S. travelers are expected to take domestic flights, a 2% increase from 2024.  

By Other Modes

Travel by other modes — including bus, train and cruise — is expected to increase by 8.5% to nearly 2.5 million people. Buses and trains could see an uptick in last-minute bookings this year.  

AAA’s Top Thanksgiving Destinations 

The top holiday destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data for the Thanksgiving travel period.  

Best/Worst Times to Drive 

Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon are expected to be the most congested periods before Thanksgiving Day, according to INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights. Travelers returning home on Sunday should expect heavy traffic most of the day. Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst backups, but keep in mind that construction, crashes or inclement weather could impact travel times. Slow Down, Move Over for emergency responders and other stopped vehicles on the side of the road to ensure everyone’s safety. 

Jillian Young

Based in Rhode Island, Jillian Young is AAA Northeast’s director of public relations. She regularly appears in local TV, radio and print media to discuss traffic safety, travel, insurance and more.