Holiday travel in the Northeast is expected to increase 2.3 percent this year, making it the third-highest travel year on record, according to AAA.
The service released its travel forecast for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, estimating that about 55.4 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles between Wednesday, Nov. 23 and Sunday, Nov. 26.
“Post-pandemic travel recovery continues, with more Americans traveling to see loved ones and see new sights,” said AAA Northeast’s Robert Sinclair Jr. “The most popular mode of transportation this holiday and all holidays is driving, and Americans will be pleased to see lower gas prices compared to a year ago.”
The two busiest years for trips since AAA began tracking travel patterns were 2005 and 2019, respectively.
According to AAA, the most popular travel destinations in the United States are Orlando, Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Miami. New York City is the sixth most popular travel destination for Thanksgiving 2023.
If you’re planning an international trip, prepare to have many companions on flights to Cancun, Mexico City, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
On the road
According to AAA, about 49.1 million Americans will be driving for the Turkey Day holiday, 1.7% more than in 2022. Gasoline will also be cheaper this year; the national average gasoline price is $3.36 per gallon, 42 cents lower than in 2022. AAA said gasoline prices could fall further as oil distributors predict the Gaza conflict will not spread outside the region.
Wednesday, November 22, is forecast to be the busiest day for road traffic. Traffic data firm INRIX said average journey times on roads could be as much as 88% of normal travel times. The worst times to drive are Wednesday from 2pm to 6pm, and Thursday from 11am to 3pm. The service said commuters should leave early in the morning or after 6pm on both days to avoid the busiest times.
Here’s where to avoid driving this holiday week:
Garden State Parkway to the Jersey Shore: Thursday, November 23, approximately 4:30 PM, and Sunday, November 26, approximately 11:15 AM. Long Island Expressway to the Hamptons: Wednesday, November 22, approximately 3:45 PM, and Friday, November 24, approximately 6 PM. I-87 to Albany: Thursday, November 23, approximately 12:30 PM, and Sunday, November 26, approximately 12:30 PM. I-95 to Boston: Wednesday, November 22, approximately 5:30 PM, and Friday, November 24, approximately 5 PM. I-95 to Washington DC: Wednesday, November 22, approximately 4:15 PM, and Sunday, November 26, approximately 5:30 PM.Friday the 24th, around 3pm
The New York State Thruway is renovating rest areas across the state. Eleven are complete, but the following 12 rest areas are still under construction, so be sure to plan your meal and restroom breaks: Sloatsburg, Ramapo, Ulster, Malden, Guilderland, Pattersonville, Oneida, Warners, Port Byron, Scottsville, Ontario and Angola.
In the sky
Although airfares are up 5% from last year, the number of Americans flying for the holiday is also on the rise: AAA said it expects about 4.7 million people to fly for the holiday, which is 6.6% more than in 2022.
Tuesday, November 21st and Wednesday, November 22nd are expected to be the busiest and most expensive airfare days. Sunday, November 26th and Monday, November 27th are the most popular days for returning home.
If you’re flying to somewhere in the U.S. that requires driving, the good news is that domestic rental car rates are down 20% from 2022 to $590. The bad news is that international car rental bookings increased by nine, averaging $696.
The average price of a domestic flight this year is $681, up 5% from 2022, while domestic hotel prices fell 12% to an average of $598.
International prices, as expected, will be a bit higher: the average price of an international flight fell 5.7% to about $1,231, but international hotel prices rose 5% to about $772.
Alternative travel options
Cruises, buses and trains are set to become more popular this year as commuters become more accustomed to public transportation. AAA said about 1.55 million Americans will travel by bus, train or boat in 2023, up 11% from 2022.
Metro-North Railroad said it would operate its weekday trains according to schedule and add 10 trains over the weekend, including two on the Hudson Line and four on the New Haven Line. The company also plans to add an extra train on Thursday morning for the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
These modes of transportation are cheaper in the U.S., where domestic cruise prices have fallen 12% to an average of $1,507. In contrast, an international cruise will cost about $2,902, 24% more than it will cost in 2022.
