{"id":53267,"date":"2025-11-19T22:21:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T22:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/53267\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T22:21:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T22:21:10","slug":"plan-now-aaa-predicts-record-81-8-million-thanksgiving-travelers-with-orlando-as-top-destination-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/53267\/","title":{"rendered":"PLAN NOW! AAA Predicts Record 81.8 Million Thanksgiving Travelers With Orlando as Top Destination"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCruise travel, in particular, remains strong\"\"As Thanksgiving approaches, a surge in travel is expected to push holiday roadways, airports, and terminals to record levels. According to a new forecast from AAA, 81.8 million Americans are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period spanning Tuesday, November 25, through Monday, December 1 \u2014 a figure that marks a new all-time high.
\n\u201cAll Aboard (or on the Road): Record-Breaking Thanksgiving Travel Expected, AAA Warns of Congestion, Cautions for Safety\u201d<\/p>\n

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA \u2013 As Thanksgiving approaches, a surge in travel is expected to push holiday roadways, airports, and terminals to record levels. <\/p>\n

According to a new forecast from AAA, 81.8 million Americans are projected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period spanning Tuesday, November 25, through Monday, December 1 \u2014 a figure that marks a new all-time high.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,\u201d said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel.<\/p>\n

Road Trips Remain King<\/p>\n

The vast majority of travelers \u2014 nearly 90 percent \u2014 are expected to hit the road. AAA estimates that 73 million people will travel by car,\u00a0an increase\u00a0of 1.3 million drivers from\u00a0last Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

Fuel prices are relatively stable: AAA reports the national average for regular gasoline is comparable to last year. But the roadside organization warns that breakdowns remain a risk \u2014\u00a0during the previous holiday period, AAA responded to nearly\u00a0600,000 emergency calls for issues such as\u00a0flat tires, dead batteries, and empty fuel tanks.<\/p>\n

Safety reminders from AAA include:<\/p>\n

\u25a0\u00a0Fill up before travel day to reduce stress in the mornings.<\/p>\n

\u25a0\u00a0Check your car\u2019s health: battery, tire pressure, and windshield wipers.<\/p>\n

\u25a0\u00a0Plan for drinking \u2014 designate a sober driver, or rely on rideshares or public transit.<\/p>\n

\u25a0\u00a0Follow \u201cSlow Down, Move Over\u201d laws to protect stopped vehicles and emergency responders.<\/p>\n

Traffic is expected to peak during the afternoons of Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day. AAA, using data from INRIX, warns drivers to try leaving earlier if possible to avoid the worst congestion.<\/p>\n

Flying, Cruising, and Alternative Travel<\/p>\n

While driving dominates, AAA predicts about 6 million Americans will take domestic flights over the holiday \u2014 up modestly (2 percent) from 2024. The average round-trip domestic fare is around $700, roughly in line with last year\u2019s prices.<\/p>\n

AAA notes that while Thanksgiving Day flights may be cheaper, returning on Sunday or Monday often carries a premium due to high demand.<\/p>\n

Other modes of travel are also rising in popularity: AAA forecasts nearly 2.5 million people will travel by bus, train, or cruise, an 8.5 percent increase from last year. Cruise travel, in particular, remains strong. AAA projects 20.7 million U.S. cruise passengers in 2025, citing the appeal of warm-weather getaways and multigenerational family travel.<\/p>\n

Central Florida: A Top Thanksgiving Destination<\/p>\n

One of the most significant insights in AAA\u2019s forecast is the prominence of Orlando, Florida, as the top domestic Thanksgiving destination. According to AAA\u2019s booking data, Orlando ranks first among U.S. cities for holiday travel.<\/p>\n

Several factors help explain Orlando\u2019s popularity:<\/p>\n

\u25a0\u00a0Theme parks: Orlando is globally known for its major attractions, including Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, which draw families, especially during holiday breaks.<\/p>\n

\u25a0\u00a0Cruise ports: The region\u2019s proximity to major cruise departure points makes it a convenient hub for travelers combining land and sea vacations.<\/p>\n

\u25a0\u00a0Car rental demand: AAA\u2019s car rental partner Hertz reports Orlando as one of the top five markets for rental demand during this Thanksgiving period.<\/p>\n

In addition, the Sunshine State is seeing record-setting travel from its own residents: AAA projects 4.65 million Floridians will travel over Thanksgiving, with more than 4.25 million expected to drive. This local mobility likely contributes to Orlando\u2019s high booking volume, as both visitors and residents navigate in and out of central Florida.<\/p>\n

When and Where to Travel: Timing Is Key<\/p>\n

According to AAA and INRIX data, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are the worst times to be on the road before Thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

For those returning home, Sunday is expected to bring the heaviest traffic, while AAA recommends traveling very early or later in the day to avoid congestion.<\/p>\n

In Florida, particularly, AAA suggests early departures are wise: Central Florida\u2019s roads and highways could be congested, especially given the high inflow and outflow of travelers.<\/p>\n

Central Florida\u2019s place at the top of AAA\u2019s domestic destination list underscores the city\u2019s dual role as both a tourist powerhouse and a local travel hub. The combination of theme parks, cruise access, and strong car rental demand makes it a magnet for holiday visitors.<\/p>\n

At the same time, a growing number of Floridians traveling within the state amplifies the region\u2019s importance in the Thanksgiving travel story.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s forecast shows more than just numbers \u2014 it reflects how Orlando continues to shape American holiday travel behavior, serving as a key gathering point for families and tourists alike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Cruise travel, in particular, remains strongAs Thanksgiving approaches, a surge in travel is expected to push holiday roadways,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":52362,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[11246,139,141,140,22240],"class_list":["post-53267","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-aaa","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news","tag-thanksgiving-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53267","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53267"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53267\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}