TOPEKA – AAA projects 54.3 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving, a 4.8 percent increase over last year.

 

The 2018 holiday weekend will see the highest Thanksgiving travel volume in more than a dozen years (since 2005) with 2.5 million more people taking to the nation’s roads, skies, rails and waterways compared with last year.

 

The West North Central Region (in which Kansas is included, along with Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska and South Dakota) will see more than 4.4 million people taking Thanksgiving weekend trips of 50 miles or longer, a 4.6 percent increase over 2017 and the largest number of travelers since 2005, according to AAA Kansas. About 4 million of those travelers, or 90 percent, will be traveling by car. Travel by air and other forms of transport (cruises, bus and trains) is also projected to increase in our region for the 2017 Thanksgiving travel period.

 

“Thanksgiving kicks off the start of a busy holiday season, and more Kansans and Americans overall will travel to spend time with friends and family this year,” said Shawn Steward, AAA Kansas spokesman. “Consumers have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season: higher wages, more disposable income and rising levels of household wealth. This is translating into more travelers kicking off the holiday season with a Thanksgiving getaway, building on a positive year for the travel industry.”

 

The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday to November 25.

Travelers still hitting the road despite higher gas prices
While AAA expects most U.S. drivers will pay the highest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2014, the vast majority of holiday travelers (89.4 percent) are still planning to hit the road. Automobile travel will grow by 4.8 percent this Thanksgiving, with 48.5 million Americans planning a holiday road trip. The national average gas price as of November 11 is $2.70, which is 14 cents more than a year ago.

 

“While gas prices have dropped significantly in the past month, Kansans, are still paying a bit more at the pump compared to November 2017, with the statewide average hovering at $2.48/gallon [on Nov. 11], compared with $2.41 a year ago,” AAA Kansas’ Steward said. “Motorists can counteract some of the higher gas costs with several actions that can result in better gas mileage. Make sure your car is tuned up, air filters replaced, tires properly inflated, and during your trip, lower your speed.”

Dead batteries, flat tires to strand 360,000 motorists this Thanksgiving
AAA expects to rescue nearly 360,000 motorists nationwide this Thanksgiving weekend, with the primary reasons being dead batteries, lockouts and flat tires. According to AAA Kansas’ Steward, during the Thanksgiving travel period in 2017, AAA Kansas Roadside Assistance responded to nearly 1,750 calls to help stranded motorists, and that number is expected to exceed 1,800 this Thanksgiving weekend.

 

AAA recommends motorists have their vehicles inspected by a trusted repair shop, such as one of the more than 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. Members can download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.

 

Top 10 Thanksgiving Destinations
Many travelers will seek iconic American cities, theme parks and other warm-weather destinations this Thanksgiving. Orlando, New York City and Anaheim top this year’s top 10 holiday destinations based on AAA’s online and travel agency air and tour bookings. Punta Cana, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami are all gaining popularity as holiday spots compared with last year.

 

Most travelers booked their flights for Thanksgiving between September 23 and October 25, paying an average ticket price of $478 roundtrip. Procrastinating travelers who still need to book their flights may find cheaper airfares, paying an average ticket price of $459 between now and November 15. However, last-minute flight availability will likely be very limited.

 

Travelers can expect to save on car rentals this Thanksgiving holiday season. At $63, the average daily rate is 10 percent less than last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. Travelers can also save on AAA Three Diamond hotels, with an average nightly rate of $166, a decline of six percent compared to last year. Conversely, the average rate for AAA Two Diamond hotels has increased six percent with an average nightly cost of $124.

 

Download the AAA Mobile app before a Thanksgiving getaway
Before setting out for the long Thanksgiving weekend, download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Travelers can use the app to map a route, find the lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and more. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.

 

With the AAA Mobile app, travelers can also find nearly 59,000 AAA Diamond Rated hotels and restaurants. AAA’s is the only rating system that uses full-time, professionally trained evaluators to inspect each property on an annual basis. Every AAA Inspected & Approved establishment offers the assurance of acceptable cleanliness, comfort and hospitality, and ratings of One to Five Diamonds help travelers find the right match for amenities and services.