Record number of Texans traveling for Thanksgiving, AAA says

A record number of Texans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year, AAA Texas projects.

AAA Texas said it expects 5.7 million Texans to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving travel period, which it defines as Nov. 26 through Dec. 2.

A majority of those Texans — 5.3 million, to be exact — are expected to hit the roads. The remaining Texans will travel by plane, cruise ship, bus or train.

This year’s travel forecast is a 1.3% increase over 2023’s record number of travelers and 2.4% higher than pre-pandemic travel.

Top destinations in the state include San Antonio, Austin and the Hill Country, as well as the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and Houston.

The top cruise destination for Texans is the Caribbean. The top domestic flight destination is Orlando, while the top international flight destination is Rome, Italy.

Nationwide, AAA expects this Thanksgiving to be the busiest on record, with 79.86 million travelers expected. Last year, 78.1 million Americans traveled for Thanksgiving, while 77.8 million traveled the year before.

AAA’s tips for drivers

If you’re going to hit the road, AAA recommends making sure your vehicle’s maintenance is up to date and that your tires and batteries are in good condition. AAA expects to respond to over 29,400 calls for help in Texas during the Thanksgiving travel period.

The busiest time to travel by car is Tuesday 27 November from 13.00 to 19.00. AAA Texas expects a 38% increase in travel time compared to typical traffic volume.

AAA said the worst traffic is expected during the afternoon and evening hours of Monday, Dec. 2, on I-45 between Galveston and Houston.

Air travelers should plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights, AAA suggests. Travelers driving themselves to the airport should reserve a parking space if they can.