AAA is projecting that almost 2 million New Jersey residents will travel 50 miles or more over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, an increase of nearly 44,000 people and up 2.3% over last year. Nationally, AAA is predicting that 80 million will travel, an increase of 1.7 million people compared to last year and 2 million more than pre pandemic in 2019.
The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as the seven-day period from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2. This year, for the first time, AAA’s forecast includes the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving Day to better capture the flow of holiday travelers.
“The primary focus of Thanksgiving, more so than any other holiday, is to celebrate with family, friends and loved ones. That has never been more evident than in the sheer volume of people who are preparing to travel this year,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Club Alliance. “New Jerseyans need to plan ahead and be prepared for backups and delays whether driving or flying as the roads and airports are expected to be busy this holiday season.”
Car Travel
Locally, almost 1.8 million New Jersey travelers (90%) will be driving to their holiday destinations, an increase of 2.2% compared to last year. Nationally, 71.7 million people are expected to travel by car an increase of 1.9% over last year.
Drivers across New Jersey are paying about 40 cents less for gas compared to last year when the statewide average was $3.28. This year, the New Jersey average peaked in early May at $3.62 per gallon and has been steadily decreasing since.
Air Travel
AAA is projecting over 168,510 New Jerseyans (8.5%) to take to the skies for the holiday weekend, up 2.5% over last year. Nationally, air travel is up 2.1% over 2023, with 5.84 million Americans flying to their Thanksgiving destinations this year.
“Airport parking spaces fill up fast, so reserve a spot ahead of time and arrive early,” Noble suggests. “Anticipate long TSA lines. If possible, avoid checking a bag to allow for more flexibility if flights are delayed or you need to reschedule.”
Other Modes of Transportation
Other modes of transportation are seeing the biggest jump for Thanksgiving holiday travel, with an increase of almost 6% in New Jersey compared to last year. Over 37,000 New Jersey travelers will be going by bus, cruise or train this year. Nationally, nearly 2.3 million travelers are going out of town for Thanksgiving using other modes of transportation, an increase of almost 9% from 2023.
“For many, Thanksgiving and travel are synonymous, and this holiday is certainly no exception,” Noble added. “AAA’s Thanksgiving forecast is consistent with the strong travel demand we have seen throughout 2024. In fact, the increase in travel across all modes of transportation reflects Americans continued desire for adventures and new experiences.”
2024 Projected Thanksgiving Holiday Travelers – New Jersey
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, says the worst times to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The best time to hit the road is Thanksgiving Day itself when interstates and highways are typically clear. Drivers returning home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, and those coming back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road.
“With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, LA, Seattle, and Washington, DC, where traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day.”
