AAA expects record setting travel numbers for Thanksgiving. More than 79.9 million Americans are forecasted to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday. That’s an all time high for Thanksgiving and nearly 1.7 million more travelers than last year.
These record setting traveler numbers are being driven by economic growth, declining inflation and strong income gains, which is expected to boost consumer spending by 4.6% compared to this time last year.
Automobile travel will set new records nationwide and in Minnesota. AAA projects more than 71.4 million Americans will take a road trip over Thanksgiving, over a million more travelers than the previous record set last year.
Gas prices are lower this Thanksgiving season compared to 2023. The national average last Thanksgiving Day was $3.26. The state average was $3.11. Currently, Minnesota drivers are finding an average price of $2.89 per gallon.
Falling oil prices this autumn may help push the national average below $3 a gallon for the first time since 2021 and that could happen before drivers hit the road for Thanksgiving.
