Record number of Texans and Americans expected to travel this Thanksgiving, according to AAA

It could be a record-breaking Thanksgiving when it comes to travel this year.

AAA has released its extended holiday forecast, and the number of travelers this year is expected to exceed pre-pandemic numbers and set a new record.

When it comes to the Lone Star State, 5.7 million Texans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from their homes over the Thanksgiving travel period, a 1.3% increase over last year's record number of travelers, according to AAA Texas.

This year's Thanksgiving travel volume in Texas is also 2.4% higher than the pre-pandemic Thanksgiving holiday period in 2019, when 5.6 million Texans took holiday getaways.

The forecast period this year covers the seven-day period from Tuesday, Nov. 26, to Monday, Dec. 2. This is the first year the Thanksgiving forecast includes the Tuesday before the holiday and the Monday after.

"Travel volumes for major holidays this year have consistently surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and the Thanksgiving holiday will be no exception," Galen Grillo, AAA Texas vice president and general manager, said in a statement . "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."

Nationally, AAA is projecting this Thanksgiving to be the busiest on record, with 79.86 million people expected to take to the roads and skies compared to 78.1 million in 2023 and 77.8 million in 2019.

Of the 5.7 million Texans traveling for Thanksgiving in 2024, 5.3 million of those will be by car. That's a 1.3% increase compared to the numbers from 2023 and a 1.8% increase over pre-pandemic travel.

Nationwide, AAA projects a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving. That's an additional 1.3 million travelers on the road compared to last year.

Low gas prices One perk of traveling by car this Thanksgiving will be low 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, according to AAA's gas tracker .

Busy roads Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT will be the overall busiest time to travel by car, according to the transportation analytics firm INRIX. That's 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 and evening of Monday, Dec. 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, according to INRIX.

Drivers should expect longer travel times during those periods and plan to leave early, AAA Texas said.

About 315,000 Texans are expected to take to the skies this Thanksgiving travel season. That's slightly higher than 2023 numbers but 7.3% more than the pre-pandemic Thanksgiving travel period.

Nationwide, AAA projects 5.84 million people will fly domestically this holiday. That's an increase of 2% compared to last year and a nearly 11% increase over 2019.

AAA Texas recommends that 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. Travelers driving themselves to the airport should reserve a parking spot ahead of time, download their airline's app, and check-in for their flight at home to avoid long lines at kiosks in the terminal.

Top Thanksgiving destinations for Texans Texans are expected to visit their favorite destinations over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, including San Antonio, Austin and the Hill Country, as well as major cities like Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, according to AAA Texas.

When it comes to going on a cruise, the Caribbean continues to be the top destination for Texans. Orlando, Florida, is the top domestic air destination, while Rome, Italy, is the top international destination by air.

Texans' top Thanksgiving destinations line up well with national trends . Nationally, the common theme among the Top 10 domestic destinations is warm weather. Four Florida cities made the list because of their beaches, theme parks and cruise ports. Other top destinations include New York, California, Hawaii and Las Vegas. Internationally, Europe and the Caribbean dominate the list because of their beach resorts, tourist attractions and river cruises.