More people are hitting the road over the Thanksgiving holiday than have traveled in nearly a decade. That’s according to AAA. They project 48.7 million Americans will travel 50 or more miles from home. That’s an increase of a million travelers from last year and the most since 2007. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 23 to Sunday, Nov. 27.
In Indiana, more than 1 million holiday travelers are anticipated, with the majority opting to drive. AAA says more Hoosiers are traveling this year as well, with a 2.3 percent overall increase in driving and a slight uptick in the number of those who plan to fly.
AAA attributes this year’s increase in Thanksgiving travel to economic improvements during the second half of the year. Consumer confidence is up, and gas prices are down overall compared to prior years. AAA predicts most U.S. drivers will pay the second-cheapest price per gallon since 2008, when the national average was $1.85.
