Thanksgiving travel will be the highest since 2005 which is being boosted by a stronger US economy- and despite higher gas prices at the pumps.
According to a report out by AAA, 50.9 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for the Thanksgiving holiday period between November 22 to November 26.
In the breakdown of modes of transportation travelers will utilize this holiday, according to Bloomberg News, about 45.5 million will travel by automobile, up 3.2 percent. Air travel will rise five percent to nearly four million.
With the US economy expected to expand to 2.7 per cent in the fourth quarter, according to Bloomberg News, and unemployment at 4.1 per cent, its lowest level since 2000, more Americans will be traveling.
With more than 50.9 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving, roads are expected to be jammed with holiday travelers
‘More thankful Americans will travel to spend time with friends and family this year,’ Bill Sutherland, AAA senior vice president, travel and publishing said.
Transportation analytics firm INRIX identified what are expected to be some of the biggest bottlenecks over the holidays. They are expected to include 5pm to 6pm on Tuesday in Chicago, where trips can take three times as long as during non-rush hour, and 4pm to 4:45pm in San Francisco.
Topping the list of most congested routes through cities are Interstate 5 through southeast Los Angeles and Interstate 495 E in New York.
‘Thanksgiving has historically been one of the busiest holidays for road trips, and this year we could see record-level travel delays,’ Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at Seattle-based INRIX, says via AAA’s report. ‘Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic.’
Busiest travel seaosn since 2005. Passengers wait to check in at the Delta Airlines terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport November 23, 2005
Being stuck in traffic also means spending more at the pump. Gas prices were 19 per cent higher as of Wednesday over last year’s prices, however AAA says they expect the prices to fall as the holiday nears.
AAA does predict that while they expect to see lower prices at the pump in the coming days, they are expecting travelers to see the highest gas prices since 2014.
Meanwhile air travelers are getting a break for the holiday. Airfare for the top 40 domestic destinations round trip are averaged at $157, which is a whopping 23 per cent lower than the average of last year’s, and the lowest in five years.
If you ‘re not staying with family and doing the hotel stay, AAA says rates are up this year over last year’s, jumping 14 per cent to $176.