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AAA Forecast: Nearly 82 Million Americans to Travel This Thanksgiving — a New Record

11:32 PM, 11/21/2025
AAA Forecast: Nearly 82 Million Americans to Travel This Thanksgiving — a New Record

AAA forecasts a record 81.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving, a 2% increase from last year. Most — about 73.3 million — will drive, adding roughly 1.3 million vehicles to the roads. Over 6 million are expected to fly, while bus, train and boat travel may rise to nearly 2.5 million. Gas prices and airfare remain largely unchanged, and the busiest driving periods are expected Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.

AAA projects that about 81.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles over the Thanksgiving period, marking a 2% increase from last year’s record of 80.2 million. This surge would set a new travel high for the holiday.

By mode: The vast majority — roughly 73.3 million people, or about 90% of travelers — are expected to drive. That adds approximately 1.3 million more vehicles to the roads compared with last Thanksgiving. More than 6 million people are expected to fly (up about 2% from 2024), while travel by bus, train and boat could rise by about 8.5% to nearly 2.5 million passengers.

Recent flight disruptions tied to a U.S. government shutdown prompted temporary FAA emergency limits, but the Federal Aviation Administration has lifted those restrictions and commercial airlines are resuming regular schedules. Still, AAA warns that some travelers may opt to drive or book last-minute bus and train trips because of lingering uncertainty about air travel.

Costs: Driving and flying costs remain close to last year’s levels. The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is about $3.07 (vs. $3.06 a year ago). A typical round-trip domestic airfare is roughly $700, similar to 2024.

When to travel: AAA predicts the most congested driving periods will be Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons before Thanksgiving Day. Drivers returning on Sunday are likely to face heavy traffic for much of the day. Thanksgiving Day itself is expected to be the easiest time to drive, with "minimal travel impact."

Practical tips: If you can, travel on Thanksgiving Day to avoid peak congestion; leave very early or late on peak days to shorten time in traffic; check airline and airport alerts before heading to the airport; allow extra time for rideshares and parking; and consider flexible tickets or refundable options if your schedule is uncertain.

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AAA Forecast: Nearly 82 Million Americans to Travel This Thanksgiving — a New Record - CRBC News