AAA expects record-setting travel numbers for Thanksgiving this year, with more than 2.3 million Georgians forecast to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday.
That’s an all-time high for Thanksgiving and nearly 40,000 more travelers than last year.
National travel numbers also are expected to set records, with an estimated 79.9 million travelers. The 2% growth is 1.7 million more people than the previous year's record set and 2 million more than in 2019.
These record-setting traveler numbers are driven by economic growth, declining inflation, and strong income gains, which are expected to boost consumer spending by 4.6% compared to last year, AAA release said.
“With more people taking to the roads, skies, rails and sea, travelers should expect congested roads and longer lines at transportation terminals,” Debbie Haas, vice president of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said. “AAA encourages travelers to develop their plan now and consider travel insurance, which compensates for flight cancellations, delays and lost luggage.”
Also, instead of a typical travel period of Wednesday-Sunday, AAA will track the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday travel period for seven days, stretching from Tuesday to Monday, Dec. 2.
Thanksgiving travelers by mode
Automobile travel will set records nationwide and in Georgia. AAA projects that more than 2.1 million Georgians will take a road trip over Thanksgiving – 35,996 more travelers than last year's record.
Nationally, gas prices are trending lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. The national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26, and the state average was $2.79. Georgia drivers are currently finding an average price of $2.92, which is 13 cents higher than last year.
Falling oil prices this autumn may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021, and that could happen before drivers hit the road for Thanksgiving. Regionally, drivers east of the Rockies will find gas between $2.25 to $2.50 a gallon in more than a dozen states.
AAA car rental partner Hertz says Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Oahu, Orlando and Phoenix are the cities with the highest demand for the Thanksgiving holiday. The busiest car pick-up day is expected to be the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and the busiest rental return days will be the Monday and Tuesday after the holiday.
Thanksgiving air travel is projected to see 5.84 million people 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, domestic airfares are up 3% this year, while the number of bookings is similar to last year. International flight bookings are up 23% compared to last Thanksgiving, partly because the cost of an international flight is down 5%.
Other modes of transportation increased by 9% from last year. Nationally, nearly 2.3 million people are expected to travel by other transportation methods, including buses, cruises and trains. This category is seeing an 18% jump over 2019, in large part due to the popularity of cruising.
“The demand for cruises has been red-hot this year,” Haas continued. “Domestic and international cruise bookings are up 20% compared to last Thanksgiving. As new ocean and river cruising options have been introduced, more travelers are discovering the value and joy of cruising.”