AAA is forecasting that 1 million more Americans, for a
total of 48.7 million, will travel 50 or more miles away from home this
Thanksgiving, a 1.9% increase over last year.
The number of Thanksgiving travelers (traveling from Wednesday,
Nov. 23, to Sunday, Nov. 27) this year will reach a 9-year high, AAA predicts.
According to AAA, the increase is attributable to economic
improvements in the second half of this year, including strength in consumer
confidence, increased consumer spending and increasing wages.
Gas prices could also be a factor, "despite recent
incremental increases in the national average pricing of gasoline,"
according to a AAA. The company estimated that so far, drivers in the United
States have saved over $28 billion in gas compared to last year.
The majority of Thanksgiving travelers, 43.5 million -- or
over 89% -- will drive this year, up 1.9% from last year. The remainder will
either fly (a 1.6% increase to 3.69 million Americans) or take another mode of
transportation (a slight increase to 1.44 million travelers), like cruises, buses
or trains.
AAA said airfares will likely see a 21% increase this
holiday season, with an average of $205 for a roundtrip flight from the top 40
domestic routes, while Three Diamond-rated hotels are expected to have a flat
nightly rate of $155. Two Diamond-rated hotels have seen a 4% increase in their
per-night rate to $123. Car rental rates are 13% lower than the Thanksgiving
holiday last year at $52 per day.