You’ll be in good company with friends and family at Thanksgiving…we hope. But there’s a chance you may spend more of the holiday getting there than you wanted, since it’s predicted to be the biggest Thanksgiving migration in 10 years.
AAA is predicting 48.7 million travelers, up a million from last year and up 12 million from the lows that followed the 2008 financial crisis and high gas prices. This year, with gas relatively low, continues a steady rise that started in 2010, and could soon reach the record high of 50.5 million in 2007.
According to AAA, about 89% of the travel—defined as a trip more than 50 miles from home—will be by car, with total travelers up by 1.9% from last year on the 2nd-lowest gas prices in a decade. Air travel is expected to be up by 1.6%. Cruise, train and bus travel is predicted steady.
The Auto club also has another prediction, for less-happy travel. It expects to come to the rescue for about 370,000 drivers with dead batteries, flat tires or lockouts. If you don’t want to be one of them, they say, check your car’s battery, tires, jack and other equipment before you go. And carry a spare key.
