AAA projects 54.6 million Americans (16.4% of the population) will travel 50 miles or more from home for the Thanksgiving holiday, up 1.5% from 2021 and 98% of volume in 2019. This year is expected to be the third-busiest for Thanksgiving travel since AAA started tracking in 2000, only behind 2005 and 2019. About 777,000 Oregonians will head over the river and through the woods for turkey and all the trimmings. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 23 through Sunday, November 27.
Here’s a cornucopia of quick facts from AAA:
- Thanksgiving travel rises 1.5% over last year.
- Third-busiest Thanksgiving holiday since 2000, only behind 2005 and 2019.
- 54.6 million – number of Americans traveling for Thanksgiving.
- 777,000 – number of Oregonians traveling for Thanksgiving.
- 89% will drive to their Thanksgiving destinations
- Air travel sees 8% boost over last year
- Travel by cruise, bus and train jumps by 23%
- Busiest traffic – Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday between 4 and 8 p.m.
- Gas prices highest ever for Thanksgiving
- Busiest air travel days are Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
- Airfare costs more – up 22% from 2021.
- Hotel rates up 14-17% from last year.
- Rental car rates decline 7% to $90 per day
- AAA to the rescue – AAA will get 411,000 calls for help nationally and about 8,000 in Oregon over the Thanksgiving holiday. Top 3 issues are dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts.
- Anaheim, Maui, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Oahu are top 5 domestic destinations for AAA Oregon members. Favorite regional destinations are Bend, Seattle, Lincoln City, Reddling, CA and Sacramento, CA.