AAA projects 81.8 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1. This year’s domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared with last Thanksgiving, setting an overall record.
“Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” says Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends.”
Florida is the most popular domestic travel destination for Thanksgiving week. AAA attributes Florida’s popularity to its theme parks and cruise ports. Top domestic travel destinations for Thanksgiving include:
- Orlando, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Miami
- Anaheim/Los Angeles, California
- Tampa
- New York
- San Francisco
- Honolulu
- Las Vegas
- Atlanta
AAA projects at least 73 million people will travel by car, which is nearly 90% of Thanksgiving travelers and an additional 1.3 million people on the road compared with drivers last Thanksgiving. The number could increase if some air travelers decide to drive instead of fly following recent flight cancellations.
According to AAA, 6 million U.S. travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday period, a 2% increase compared with 2024. The company says that number could decrease as some air travelers may change plans due to recent flight cancellations.
Travel by other modes — such as bus, train and cruise — is expected to increase by 8.5% to nearly 2.5 million people. AAA says cruising is building on its post-pandemic growth. This year alone, AAA projects 20.7 million American cruise passengers and forecasts 21.7 million American cruise passengers in 2026.
