This Year’s Thanksgiving Travel Will Break U.S. Records

Thanksgiving travel in the U.S. is set to break records, according to AAA.

Nearly 80 million travelers are expected to hit the roads and skies between Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Monday, Dec. 2. That’s 1.7 million more than last year and 2 million more than the pre-pandemic high in 2019.

Most travelers—71.7 million—will drive, while 5.84 million will fly domestically, marking a 2% increase over last year and an 11% jump from 2019, despite domestic airfare being up 3% year over year.

In terms of where people are flying to domestically, it’s generally warm-weather destinations—Orlando, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, and Los Angeles are all in the top 6—along with New York, which has long-been one of the most popular holiday travel cities.

International, on the other hand, is lead by Budapest, which is trending as river cruise continues to grow in popularity. Budapest is by more warm-weather destinations: Mexicali, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Cancun, Mexico; and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

When to hit the road

Traffic patterns vary by metro area, but AAA offers general advice for drivers. The best day to travel is Thanksgiving Day, when highways are typically clear. The worst travel times are the afternoons leading up to Thanksgiving, especially starting at 1 p.m. Drivers should aim to leave before 10 a.m.

For post-Thanksgiving travel, Friday, Nov. 29, is the one day when afternoon travel is preferred. For Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 1, travelers should start their journeys before 1 p.m. On Monday, Dec. 2, it’s recommended to begin travel before 8 a.m.