OP / ED
AAA Texas projects 5.7 million Texas residents will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period*, a 1.3% increase over last year’s record number of travelers. For the first time, AAA’s forecast includes the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving Day to better capture the flow of holiday travelers.
This year’s Thanksgiving travel volume in the Lone Star State is also 2.4% higher than the pre-pandemic Thanksgiving holiday in 2019, when 5.6 million Texans took holiday getaways.
Nationally, AAA is also projecting this Thanksgiving to be the busiest on record, with 79.86 million travelers expected compared to 78.1 million in 2023 and 77.8 million in 2019.
BY THE NUMBERS “Travel volumes for major holidays this year have consistently surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and the Thanksgiving holiday will be no exception,” said AAA Texas Vice President and General Manager Galen Grillo. “This trend highlights growing consumer confidence to travel as families and friends jump on the opportunity to reconnect, whether through shared vacations or trips to visit loved ones.”
GAS PRICES
Thanksgiving travelers in Texas will pay the lowest average gas prices for this holiday since the pandemic year of 2020. The statewide average price for regular unleaded fuel is around $2.65 a gallon. To find the cheapest gas prices closest to your location, use the AAA Mobile app, and visit gasprices. aaa.com to find the average gas prices at your destination or calculate the estimated gas cost for your Thanksgiving trip.
TOP DESTINATIONS Texans will continue to visit their favorite destinations this holiday weekend, including San Antonio, Austin and the Hill Country, as well as major cities like Dallas/ Fort Worth and Houston. The Caribbean continues to be the top cruise destination for Texans, while Orlando is the top domestic air destination. Rome, Italy is the top international destination by air.
Nationwide, according to AAA Travel booking data, the top destinations are: Domestic — Orlando, FL, Miami, FL, Fort Lauderdale, FL, New York, NY, Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA, Tampa, FL, Honolulu, HI, San Francisco, CA, Las Vegas, NV and Atlanta, GA; International — Budapest, Hungary, Mexicali, Mexico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Cancun, Mexico, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Rome, Italy, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Paris, France, Barcelona, Spain, Munich, Germany
TRAVEL TIPS
If traveling by automobile, make sure your vehicle maintenance is up-to-date and your tires and battery are in good condition. AAA expects to respond to more than 29,400 calls for help in Texas over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. If you need some help getting your vehicle road trip ready, visit AAA.com/ AAR to find a reputable AAA-Approved Auto Repair facility near you.
Air travelers should plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours ahead of time for international departures. AAA Texas recommends people who drive themselves to the airport to reserve a parking space to make sure you have one, download your airline’s app and check-in for your flight at home to avoid long lines at kiosks in the terminal.
BUSY ROADS
According to the transportation analytics firm INRIX, Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. will be the overall busiest time to travel by car, with an average 38% increase in travel time compared to typical traffic volume. The worst traffic congestion in Texas is expected to be on the afternoon/evening of Monday, December 2 on northbound Interstate 45 between Galveston and Houston, when the traffic volumes are expected to be 30% higher. All major highways including Interstate 35 are likely to be congested on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons before Thanksgiving, so drivers should expect longer travel times during those periods and plan to leave early.
AAA started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of 64 million members across North America, including 57 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA has to offer or to become a member, visit AAA.com.
*Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period For this forecast, the Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as the seven-day period from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2. This is the first year the Thanksgiving forecast is a longer timeframe to include the Tuesday before the holiday and the Monday after. Historically, AAA only looked at Wednesday through Sunday.
