Cars cross the Bay Bridge over the Chesapeake Bay in Stevensville, Maryland, on November 22, 2023, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

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Roads, airports and even cruise terminals could be busier this year as nearly 80 million people are expected to travel during Thanksgiving, according to AAA.

Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said Monday that Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday in travel and is expected to set records in all forms of travel, including cruising.

“Americans reconnect with family and friends this Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that,” Barber said in a statement. “AAA travel demand continues to rise post-pandemic, with our members looking for new adventures and unforgettable vacations.”

Last year, an estimated 78 million people traveled more than 50 miles over the Thanksgiving holiday, a record that surpassed the forecast of 55 million travelers, according to AAA. The organization says it has been tracking holiday travel since 2000. This year’s projections cover a seven-day period beginning on the Tuesday before and Monday after Thanksgiving – compared to previous years that tracked five days, Wednesday through Sunday.

Lower gas prices this year This could influence Americans to hit the road for the holiday, with a national average of $3.07 as of Monday, and prices could fall below $3 per gallon before Thanksgiving for the first time since 2021, AAA says. That would be a drop of almost 30 cents from gas prices during Thanksgiving last year the national average was $3.32.

AAA projects that nearly 72 million people will travel by car during the holidays – just over 1 million more on the road than last year and more than before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when 70.6 million people traveled by car for Thanksgiving.

About According to the organization, 6 million Americans will travel by air within the US, a 2% increase from last year and an increase of almost 11% since 2019. It costs more to travel by air, with travelers paying 3% more for flights within the US, while international flight costs fell 5%, according to AAA booking data. Bookings for international flights for this holiday are up 23% compared to last year, AAA said.

In an effort to meet that demand, U.S. airlines will make 150,000 more seats available each day than they did on Thanksgiving last year, says Airlines For America, a group that represents major airlines like Delta.

“We expect this Thanksgiving season to be our busiest ever, and U.S. airlines have been preparing for months to get travelers and cargo to their destinations safely and efficiently,” said Rebecca Spicer, senior vice president of communications at Airlines for America in a statement. .

There will also likely be a jump toward other modes of transportation, with nearly 2 million Americans traveling by train, bus or cruise. That’s an increase of 18% from 2019 and an increase of almost 9% from last year, according to AAA. Demand for cruises has been particularly high, with cruise bookings – both international and domestic – up 20% compared to last Thanksgiving.

Be careful when making travel plans

People wait in line at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on November 21, 2023, as people travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

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More Americans traveling could mean longer lines at security checkpoints for those traveling by air and longer times in the car while driving.

The worst times to hit the road during the holidays are Monday and Wednesday of Thanksgiving week between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to INRIX, a transportation analytics firm. The best times are before 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on those days, with minimal travel expected on Thanksgiving Day.

If you’re returning from Thanksgiving by car, the best time to travel is after 1 p.m. on Friday and before 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, INRIX says. For those returning by car on Monday, the best times to drive are before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

The worst times to drive are on Fridays between 7am and 10am, on Saturdays between 4pm and 8pm and on Sundays between 12pm and 6pm. Crowds are also expected on Monday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst for INRIX, says drivers should check local news alerts and follow apps that monitor traffic to avoid major delays.

“This is especially important for motorists in metropolitan areas such as Boston, New York, LA, Seattle and Washington, DC, where traffic is expected to be more than double what it normally is on a normal day,” Pishue said in a declaration.

Americans may also experience weather delays depending on where they live and their vacation destinations.

While it is still too early to determine the exact storm systems for Thanksgiving week, weather patterns indicate snowy weather that could impact the northern Rockies and Northern Plains, the National Weather Service said.