South Florida is bracing for one of its busiest Thanksgiving travel periods ever, with new projections showing that more than 4.65 million Floridians are expected to hit the roads, skies, or seas next week.
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AAA says holiday travel statewide is up 2.6% over last year, setting a new record and reflecting what many locals already suspected: people are on the move again.
Nationwide, 81.8 million Americans are expected to travel for the holiday—1.6 million more than in 2024. Thanksgiving remains the year’s busiest travel period, outpacing both Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.
For many South Florida families, the tradition of visiting loved ones is unchanged. But this year, travel takes on a deeper meaning for thousands of Caribbean-Americans, especially Jamaicans, who are flying or sailing back home to support recovery efforts after Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica’s western parishes last month. Local nonprofits and diaspora organizations say volunteers and supplies are moving steadily between Florida and the island as communities try to rebuild.
Most Floridians are hitting the road
AAA says the vast majority of Floridians—more than 4.25 million—will drive to their Thanksgiving destinations. Concerns over ongoing flight reductions and the potential for last-minute cancellations could push that number even higher. Orlando and Miami remain among the top five cities in the country for rental car demand, and rental rates are down 15% from last year.
Drivers can expect gas prices to be lower than last Thanksgiving, when the Florida average was $3.11 per gallon. AAA is urging motorists to check their batteries and tire pressure before setting out; the agency handled nearly 600,000 roadside emergencies nationwide during the holiday period last year.
Air travel is also ticking up, with nearly 299,000 Floridians expected to fly. Domestic airfares are averaging around $700 for a round-trip ticket, about the same as last year. Flying on Thanksgiving Day remains one of the better ways to save money, but return flights on Sunday and Monday will be the busiest and priciest.
“With recent flight reductions and the potential for cancellations, travelers really need flexibility this year,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. She recommends choosing early morning departures and building in backup plans—whether that’s changing return dates or being ready to drive.
Travel by bus, train, and cruise is expected to jump 8.5% nationwide. More than 87,000 Floridians will choose these modes, and Caribbean cruises are once again a top pick for holiday travelers. AAA projects 20.7 million U.S. cruise passengers this year, with routes to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Aruba ranking especially high.
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Thanksgiving week’s top domestic destinations include Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, and Los Angeles. Internationally, Americans are heading for Europe, Mexico, Australia—and the Caribbean. Punta Cana, Cancun, Aruba, and Oranjestad are all high on the list, and some South Florida residents are extending those trips into volunteer missions to deliver supplies to Jamaica.