Heavy traffic likely on the Rickenbacker and Miami roadways as Floridians are hitting the road in record numbers this Thanksgiving, with 4.65 million residents expected to travel at least 50 miles between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, according to AAA’s annual holiday forecast.

That’s a 2.6% increase over last year, and the highest Thanksgiving travel volume the state has ever seen.

Nationwide, AAA projects 81.8 million Americans will travel, reinforcing Thanksgiving as the busiest travel holiday of the year.

Most Floridians will drive, and congestion could be significant

More than 4.25 million Floridians will travel by car, and AAA says that number could grow if travelers opt out of flying due to recent concerns over flight cancellations. Nationally, nearly 73 million Americans are expected to drive.

AAA also expects:

– Gas prices to be lower than last year’s state average ($3.11 a gallon)

– Orlando and Miami to be among the busiest markets for rental car demand

– The worst travel times to be Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, and Sunday all day

Locally, Key Biscayne drivers should expect heavier-than-normal congestion on the Rickenbacker Causeway, especially Sunday as travelers return home.

Nearly 299,000 Floridians expected to fly

Air travel will be up slightly, with almost 300,000 Florida residents taking flights. Domestic airfares are similar to last year; about $700 round-trip on average.

AAA encourages flyers to:

– Choose early morning flights, which suffer fewer delays

– Consider flying on Thanksgiving Day for potential savings

– Build flexibility into return plans due to possible disruptions

– Travel by bus, train and cruise also rising

More than 87,000 Floridians will use buses, trains, or cruises this holiday, an increase of over 7%. AAA notes that Thanksgiving week Caribbean cruises remain especially popular for warm-weather getaways.

Top Thanksgiving destinations

According to AAA booking data, Florida dominates U.S. travel, with Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa and Key Biscayne–adjacent Miami Beach among the top domestic picks. Internationally, travelers are heading to Paris, Amsterdam, Cancun, Punta Cana and Sydney.

For the complete AAA report, click here.Â