Everything You Need to Know About Traveling This Thanksgiving

14.11.2023 - 20:57 / travelpulse.com / Paula Twidale / Donald Wood

AAA projects that 55.4 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday 2023.

This year’s Thanksgiving travel forecast predicts an increase of 2.3 percent over last year and marks the third-highest fall holiday forecast since AAA began tracking in 2000.

Travelers from the United States are most likely to drive to their destination, with 49.1 million people getting behind the wheel, an increase of 1.7 percent compared to 2022. Thankfully, average gasoline prices are down, making the cost of travel cheaper.

Transportation data provider INRIX revealed that Wednesday, November 22, would be the busiest day on the roads. For those renting a vehicle for the holiday, the average price for a domestic reservation is $590, down 20 percent, while the average international reservation is $696, up nine percent. 

“For many Americans, Thanksgiving and travel go hand in hand, and this holiday, we expect more people on the roads, skies, and seas compared to 2022,” AAA Travel Senior Vice President Paula Twidale said.

A crowded airport baggage claim area. (Photo via kyolshin / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)

AAA expects 4.7 million people will fly over Thanksgiving, an increase of 6.6 percent over last year and the highest number of fall holiday air travelers since 2005. Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving are the busiest air travel days and the most expensive, while Sunday is typically the most active day to return home.

Based on a NerdWallet analysis of Transportation Security Administration checkpoint data averaged over the past four years, the most crowded day for air travel will be the Sunday after Thanksgiving, while the least crowded will be Thanksgiving Day itself.

As for Americans traveling by cruise, bus, and train over the holiday period, AAA expects 1.55 million people will head out of town using these other modes of transportation, up nearly 11 percent. The average price for a domestic cruise is $1,507, down 12 percent, while international voyages are up 24 percent to an average of $2,902.

“Travel demand has been strong all year, and AAA’s Thanksgiving forecast reflects that continued desire to get away and spend time with loved ones,” Twidale continued.

This Thanksgiving season, Americans generally pay less for domestic travel than last year and more for international vacations. The exception is airfare, which is slightly more expensive for domestic flights (up five percent to $681) and lower for international flights (down 5.7 percent to $1,231).

Holiday season traffic in New York City. (photo via peeterv/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Hotel prices have decreased compared to last year, with the average domestic hotel stay being $598, down 12 percent. International hotel