Thanksgiving Travel to Rise for Both Auto and Air, AAA Says
ORLANDO, Fla.--Nov. 1, 20032, 2003--Despite busy airports and slightly higher gas prices than last Thanksgiving, Americans are expected to drive and fly in increased numbers this holiday, according to AAA.AAA estimates that 36 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, up 2.4 percent from the 35.2 million who traveled last year.
Approximately 31.1 million travelers (86 percent of all holiday travelers) expect to go by motor vehicle, a 2.5 percent increase from the 30.3 million who drove a year ago.
Another 4.6 million (13 percent of holiday travelers) plan to go by airplane, up almost 1 percent from last Thanksgiving. A projected 300,000 vacationers (1 percent) will go by train, bus, or other mode of transportation.
"The travel season finished strong this summer and we expect the trend to continue through the Thanksgiving holiday," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes. "Travelers should allow plenty of time for crowded roadways, busy airports and tight security."
Auto travelers will find gas prices down about 24 cents from the all-time high set before the Labor Day holiday. The national average of $1.50 for a gallon of self-serve unleaded is about 4 cents per gallon higher than last Thanksgiving.
The greatest number of Thanksgiving auto travelers will originate in the Southeast with 8.8 million; followed by the West, 6.9 million; Midwest, 6.8 million; Great Lakes, 6.3 million; and Northeast, 2.3 million.
The West and Southeast are expected to produce the largest number of air travelers, each with 1.2 million, followed by the Northeast and Midwest with 800,000 each; and Great Lakes, 600,000.
Cities top the list of preferred destinations this holiday with 38 percent of the travel volume. Towns and rural areas are the destination for 31 percent of travelers, followed by oceans and beaches, 10 percent; mountains, 8 percent; lakes, 3 percent; and theme/amusement parks, 2 percent. Another 4 percent responded with other, and 4 percent said they didn't know.
Of the total Thanksgiving travelers, 56 percent will stay with friends or relatives and another 26 percent expect to stay at a hotel/motel. Other overnight plans include: cabin/condo, 6 percent; camper/trailer/RV/tent, 3 percent; other 2 percent; no overnight stay, 4 percent; and didn't know, 3 percent.
Thanksgiving travel figures are based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association of America, which conducts special research for AAA.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully-tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
Projected Number of Thanksgiving, 2003 Travelers
By Automobile/Truck/RV
By Census Region of Residence (1)
2003
2003 Number of
2003 Percent Auto
Population Traveling Travelers
(Millions) by Auto (Millions)
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Total United States 282.8 11.0% 31.1
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Northeast 53.2 4.3% 2.3
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Southeast 69.5 12.7% 8.8
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Great Lakes 44.8 14.1% 6.3
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Midwest 50.9 13.4% 6.8
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West 64.4 10.7% 6.9
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Projected Number of Thanksgiving, 2003 Travelers
By Air
By Census Region of Residence (1)
2003
2003 Number of
2003 Percent Air
Population Traveling Travelers
(Millions) by Air (Millions)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total United States 282.8 1.6% 4.6
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Northeast 53.2 1.5% 0.8
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Southeast 69.5 1.7% 1.2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Great Lakes 44.8 1.3% 0.6
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Midwest 50.9 1.6% 0.8
----------------------------------------------------------------------
West 64.4 1.9% 1.2
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(1) NORTHEAST: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania; SOUTHEAST: South Atlantic: Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky,
Mississippi, Tennessee; GREAT LAKES: East North Central: Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin; MIDWEST: West North Central: Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota;
West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas; WEST:
Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Wyoming, Utah; Pacific: Washington, Oregon, California.
Source: Travel Industry Association of America/American Automobile
Association