ORLANDO, Fla. – Nearly 90% of holiday travelers in the U.S. will hit the road for Thanksgiving, including an estimated record of 4.65 million Floridians, according to AAA.
AAA estimates that nearly 73 million Americans will travel by car to their holiday destinations.
The auto club group also projects 4.65 million Floridians will hit the road, marking a 2.6% increase over the last year and sets a new record for Thanksgiving travel.
“Floridians are embracing the Thanksgiving spirit with record-breaking travel plans this year,” Debbie Haas, vice president of Travel for AAA, said in a statement. “Whether it’s driving across the state or flying across the country, people are making time to connect with loved ones. Even with concerns about flight cancellations, travelers are showing flexibility and resilience and relying most on driving.”
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Thanksgiving is still the busiest travel holiday of the year, ranking higher that Memorial Day and Fourth of July.
Gas prices this year will be lower than last year, according to AAA.
As for flying, AAA said nearly 299,000 Floridians will head to the skies to get to their destinations, though the number could end up lower as flights get canceled or travelers make other plans.
The prediction comes as the Federal Aviation Administration is lifting all restrictions on commercial flights that were imposed at 40 major airports during the country’s longest government shutdown.
Citing safety concerns as staffing shortages grew at air traffic control facilities during the shutdown, the FAA issued an unprecedented order to limit traffic in the skies. It had been in place since Nov. 7, affecting thousands of flights across the country.
Airline leaders have expressed optimism that operations would rebound in time for the Thanksgiving travel period after the FAA lifted its order.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.