According to AAA, 55 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving this year, making it the second-most traveled Thanksgiving holiday since the record of 59 million in 2005.
More travelers are opting to drive than in years past, rather than take alternative transportation methods such as train, plane, or cruise ship, according to Robert Sinclair from AAA.
“People always want to drive,” Sinclair told Yahoo Finance. “You have the independence to leave when you want. You’re on your own schedule.”
For 49.3 million Americans, driving is their choice mode of transportation, with 4.45 million expected to travel by plane, and 1.49 million choosing an alternative.
The stagnant price of gas is also encouraging more travelers to hit the road. The average price at the pump nationally has remained steady recently, at $2.59 per gallon, though gas prices are, on average, four cents higher than at this time last year.
What travelers can expect
Thanksgiving kicks off the busiest travel month of the year. AAA’s research revealed some trends for travelers to keep in mind as they prepare to hit the roads or take to the sky.
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AAA predicts more than 368,000 motorists will call for assistance this Thanksgiving holiday, with dead batteries, flat tires, and lockouts being the leading issues for drivers.
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Motorists can expect the highest rental car prices since Thanksgiving 1999. Rentals will be 20% higher than last year, costing drivers about $75 a day.
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Air travel will see the biggest increase in volume during the Thanksgiving holiday, rising 4.6% from last year.
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Traveling on Thanksgiving presents the lowest airfare prices, averaging $454 per ticket. For Christmas, AAA found that Christmas Eve is the best day to travel. The day consistently has the lowest airfare at $527 and is the lightest travel day of the season.
Follow Katie on Twitter: @hashtagkatie.
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