AAA projects approximately 1.2 million New Jerseyans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, up only 1 percent  from those who traveled for Thanksgiving 2014 but the largest projected number of travelers since 2007. Nationwide 46.9 million people will be traveling, a slight increase of 0.6 percent over the 46.6 million who traveled last year. The 2015 Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 25^th to Sunday, November 29^th.

“This Thanksgiving, more Americans will carve out time to visit friends and family since 2007,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “While many people remain cautious about the economy and their finances, many thankful Americans continue to put a premium on traveling to spend the holiday with loved ones.”

Driving remains most popular mode of travel for Thanksgiving

Over 1 million New Jersey residents will take a holiday road trip this Thanksgiving, an increase of 1.1 percent over last year. Nationally, nearly 42 million Americans will be driving to their destination this year, an increase of 0.7 percent over last year.

Lowest Thanksgiving gas prices in seven years expected

Drivers nationwide continue to experience significant yearly savings in the price of gas and AAA estimates that consumers are saving nearly $265 million on gasoline every day compared to a year ago. This has helped boost disposable income, enabling many Americans to travel this Thanksgiving. Most U.S. drivers will pay the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2008. Today’s New Jersey average price for a gallon of gasoline is $1.99, 72 cents less than the average price on Thanksgiving last year ($2.71).

“One holiday gift has come early this year. Americans will likely pay the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2008. Lower prices are helping boost disposable income, and enabling families to kick off the holiday season with a Thanksgiving getaway,” continued Noble.

Travel by the Mode:

Automobile

• New Jersey—1,039,769 (89% of all travelers), an increase of 1.1% from 2014.
• Nationally— 41.9 million people (89%of holiday travelers), a 0.7% increase from last year.

Air

• New Jersey— 99,726 (8.5% of all travelers), an increase of 0.3% from those who flew last year.
• Nationally—3.6 million leisure travelers (7.7% of holiday travelers), an increase of 0.1% from 2014.

Train, Bus, Watercraft or Multi-Modal Travel

• New Jersey— 29,630 (2.5% of all travelers), a decrease of 0.2% from last year.
• Nationally— 1.4 million travelers (2.9 % of all travelers), down 1.4% from last year.

National Highlights from 2015 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast:

• AAA forecasts that travel during the Thanksgiving holiday will increase for the seventh consecutive year.
• The 46.9 million travelers expected to take to the roads, skies, rails and water is the highest since 2007 and 5.5 percent above the average volume since 2001.
• The 2015 travel forecast is 3.8 percent higher than the average of the previous 10 years.
• Nationally, as of  November 17th, the national average gas price of $2.15 is 74 cents per gallon cheaper than last year.
• Despite steady wage growth and low prices that are boosting disposable income 3.1 percent, consumers are expected to increase spending only 3.0 percent as they remain cautious about their finances.

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