1/26 – AAA: 1.2 Million New Jerseyans to Travel for Thanksgiving

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HAMILTON  – AAA projects approximately 1.2 million New Jerseyans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, up 4.1 percent from those who traveled for Thanksgiving 2013.
Nationwide 46.3 million people will be traveling, an increase of 4.2 percent from the 44 million who traveled last year.  The 2014 Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 30.
“This year, more Americans will give thanks for the opportunity to travel to friends and family than any year since 2007,” said Tracy Noble, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic.  “Holiday joy has come early this year with Americans likely to pay the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2009.
“The primary focus of Thanksgiving, more so than any other holiday, is to celebrate with friends, family and loved ones,” Noble said. “Travelers attempting to carve out a travel budget will be happy to know that Thanksgiving will be the least expensive holiday of the year.”
AAA expects 1,036,829 or 89 percent of New Jersey travelers to use automobile transportation this weekend. Another 101, 126, or 8.6 percent will travel by air and 31, 105 will travel by train, bus, watercraft of multi-modal; transportation.
The national price of gasoline has fallen below $3.00 per gallon for the first time since Dec. 22, 2010, a welcome gift for travelers as they head into the busy holiday travel season.
AAA predicts most U.S. travelers likely will pay the cheapest Thanksgiving gas prices in five years.The decreased cost of gas will provide consumers with real savings that could be used for other purposes on the trip. New current New Jersey average is $2.73.
Highlights from 2014 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast:

  • Thanksgiving holiday travel volume is expected to reach the highest level since 2007, with 46.3 million Americans taking a trip.
  • The 2014 forecast is 4.2 percent higher than the 44.4 million Americans who traveled last year and the greatest growth rate for any holiday since Independence Day 2012.
  • Road trippers likely will pay the lowest Thanksgiving price for fuel in five years. Today’s New Jersey average price for gas is $2.73, which is 44 cents lower than one year ago.
  • The national average price of gas is $2.85 per gallon, which is 43 cents lower than the average price for Thanksgiving a year ago ($3.28 per gallon).
  • Travelers will encounter moderately higher prices with airfares one percent higher, mid-range hotels up eight percent and car rentals costing 10 percent more.
  • The average distance traveled this Thanksgiving will be 549 miles round-trip and Americans will spend an average of $573 during the holiday weekend.