Thanksgiving Travel in Texas Hits Record High with 5.7 Million Residents on the Move

A new report from AAA Texas says that 5.7 million Texans will be traveling 50 miles or more from home for Thanksgiving. This is a high number. This number is 1.3% higher than last year and a huge 2.4% higher than the amount of travel in 2019 before the pandemic.  

This is what AAA Texas says will happen from the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to the Monday after. Before the outbreak, in November 2019, 5.6 million Texans took trips like this, showing that the state is still getting better and that people are feeling more confident about traveling. 

Galen Grillo, Vice President and General Manager of AAA Texas said, "This trend shows that people are becoming more confident in their ability to travel. Families and friends are jumping at the chance to get back together, whether it's through shared vacations or trips to see loved ones."  

AAA predicts that 79.86 million people will travel this year, up from 78.1 million in 2023. This is a big jump in travel numbers across the country. The most popular way to travel for the holiday is still by car, with 71.74 million Americans, including 5.3 million Texans, planning to do so.  

Gas prices are better now for people who want to drive. The statewide average price for normal unleaded gas this season is $2.65 per gallon. This is the lowest November price for gas since the peak of the pandemic in 2020.

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