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
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.
More Drivers

FDA Eases Path for Oral-Fluid Testing
Federal actions could advance oral-fluid drug testing for truck drivers, but lab certification delays and marijuana rescheduling questions remain.
Read More →
Why Hiring Truck Drivers Is Getting Harder
Higher recruiting costs, a shrinking driver pool, and renewed pay competition are raising the stakes for fleets heading into 2027.
Read More →
Roehl Offers Truck Drivers $10,000 Retention Incentive
Payments begin after the first load and continue in mileage-based installments for eligible experienced drivers joining the fleet.
Read More →
Platform Science Adds Dispatch and Safety Tools
Four additions to PS Fleet help fleets monitor loads, manage driver coaching, share truck locations and adjust video system settings.
Read More →
When Language Stops the Truck: The Return of ELP Out-of-Service Orders
English language proficiency rules for commercial drivers aren’t new, but renewed out-of-service enforcement has raised the stakes. Here’s what carriers need to know before a driver reaches a roadside inspection.
Read More →
Samsara Launches Custom AI Agent Builder
Agent Studio lets fleets create AI tools for hours-of-service monitoring, reporting and driver support, including agents that communicate by phone.
Read More →
Trucker Path Expands Reserved Parking Network
Trucker Path has added close to 6,000 more truck parking spaces to its Trucker Path Reserved Parking Network with the addition of Safe Truck Parking.
Read More →
EEOC Sues Texas Trucking Company Over Driver Age Limits
The agency says Trancasa USA rejected applicants over 65 and applied tougher driving-record standards to those over 60.
Read More →
Nussbaum, Roehl Announce Second Driver Pay Increase This Year
This year has seen a swath of major truck driver pay increases as freight capacity has tightened.
Read More →
From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers
After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.
Read More →
