AAA Predicts Record Thanksgiving Travel

A record 38.9 million Americans plan a Thanksgiving holiday getaway of 100 miles or more from home this week, according to AAA, meaning crowded highways and travel centers.

Thanksgiving travel is expected to be up 4 percent over the 37.4 million people who took a trip a year ago.
AAA estimates 31.6 million travelers will go by motor vehicle, a 5 percent rise from the 30.1 million who traveled last Thanksgiving.
"We expect record volumes this Thanksgiving despite soaring fuel costs," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes. "Thanksgiving is a special time for most Americans, and higher transportation costs are not going to discourage them from visiting family and friends or using the four-day holiday to take a vacation," Hughes said.
AAA's holiday travel projections are based on a national survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association, which conducts special research for AAA.
The greatest number of Thanksgiving auto travelers will originate in the Southeast with 9.3 million, followed by the Midwest with 7.1 million; Great Lakes, 6.4 million; West, 6.1 million; and Northeast, 2.7 million.