46.3M Americans Will Travel Over Thanksgiving

PITTSBURGH -- Nearly 46.3 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving weekend, the highest number for the holiday season since 2007, the AAA said Thursday, noting that’s a 4.2% increase from last year.

Almost 90% of travelers, 41.3 million, will observe the holiday with a road trip and also will enjoy the lowest gasoline and diesel prices in nearly four years. The national price of gasoline has fallen below $3 per gallon for the first time since Dec. 22, 2010.

The busiest time for travel this Thanksgiving is Nov. 26 through Nov. 30.

Among the forecasts in the AAA’s East North Central Region -- Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin:

• Thanksgiving holiday travelers numbering 7.79 million, an increase of 4.8%.
• 6.97 million will travel by automobile, up 5.1% from 2013.
• 585,000 people will fly to their destinations, up 3.4% from last year.

According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, hotel rates for AAA Three Diamond lodgings will be 8% higher than a year ago with travelers spending $154 per night on average compared to $142 last year. The average hotel rate for AAA Two Diamond hotels has risen 9% with an average cost of $114 per night.

Weekend daily car rental rates will average $55, 10% higher than last year. Airfares are flat.

Travelers nationwide are expected to spend an average of $573 over the course of their holiday travels. Despite lower average gas prices, travelers are allocating 31% of their budgets to fuel transportation. Food and beverage and shopping will account for 22% and 20% of holiday travel budgets, respectively.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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