Marie Dodds
Director of Government and Public Affairs
AAA Oregon/Idaho
600 SW Market St., Portland, OR 97201
Direct: 503.222.6729
November 15, 2016
AAA: Most Thanksgiving Travelers Expected since 2007 with a Million More than Last Year
48.7 Million Americans to Travel; 89 Percent will go by Car
PORTLAND, Ore., – AAA forecasts 48.7 million Americans (15 percent of the population) will travel 50 miles or more
from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, an increase of one million travelers or 1.9 percent over 2015 and
the highest volume for the holiday since 2007. About 592,000 Oregonians will head over the river and through the woods.
The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, November 23 through Sunday, November 27.
“More Americans will carve out time
to visit family and friends for
Thanksgiving than any year since
2007,” says AAA Oregon/Idaho
Public Affairs Director Marie Dodds.
“Most will travel by car, enjoying an
early holiday bonus of the secondcheapest gas prices in nearly a
decade.”
“With one million additional holiday
travelers, this marks the eighth
consecutive year of growth for
Thanksgiving travel,” says Doreen
Loofburrow, Vice President of Travel
Services for AAA Oregon/Idaho.
“Travel by car, air, cruises, trains and
buses are all showing increase
compared to last year.”
Pacific Region also sees boost
In the Pacific region (Washington,
Oregon, California, Alaska and
Hawaii), 7.9 million travelers (14.8 percent of the population) are expected to travel for the holiday weekend, an increase
of 2 percent compared to last year. About 592,000 Oregonians will travel.
It’s the Economy
The increase in travelers is due to improvements in the economy during the second half of the year, including rising
wages, increased consumer spending and overall strength in consumer confidence.
Wednesday is busiest travel day
The majority of travelers plan to leave the day before Thanksgiving and return the following Sunday. Nearly a quarter of all
travelers typically return on Monday, Nov. 28 or later.
Most will travel by car
More than 89 percent of travelers (43.5 million people or 13.4 percent of the population) plan to drive to their Thanksgiving
destinations. This is a 1.9 percent increase compared to last year.
In the Pacific region, 86 percent of all travelers (6.8 million travelers or 12.7 percent of the population) will go by car, an
increase of 2.1 percent compared to 2015.
“2016 will see the most travelers on the road since 2005. Car travel is again the number one mode for Thanksgiving
because driving is often more affordable, more convenient and allows for greater flexibility,” adds Dodds.
Second-lowest Thanksgiving gas prices in a decade expected
Thanksgiving Gas Prices
AAA says most drivers will pay the second-cheapest gas prices for the
Thanksgiving holiday since 2008 when the national average was $1.85
and the Oregon average was $1.99. Despite recent incremental increases
in pump prices, AAA estimates U.S. drivers have saved more than $28
billion so far at the pumps this year compared to the same period last
year. This has helped boost disposable income, enabling many Americans
to travel this Thanksgiving.
The current national average is $2.16 per gallon and the Oregon average
is $2.49.
Air travel highest since 2007; airfares up 21 percent
Year
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
National
Average
$2.05
$2.80
$3.28
$3.43
$3.32
$2.86
$2.63
$1.85
Oregon
Average
$2.34
$3.03
$3.28
$3.50
$3.62
$3.01
$2.76
$1.99
Air travel is expected to increase by 1.6 percent nationally, with 3.7 million Americans (7.6 percent of holiday travelers or
1.1 percent of the population) flying to their holiday destinations. This is the highest air travel volume since 2007 and the
fifth consecutive year of growth.
In the Pacific Region, 843,000 people (10.7 percent of holiday travelers or 1.6 percent of the population) will fly to their
holiday destination. This is an increase of 1.8 percent compared to 2015. The Pacific region is geographically more
spread out and typically sees a higher than average share of its population fly and this is the case for this Thanksgiving.
Those taking to the skies are paying more than last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index. For the Thanksgiving
holiday the average lowest round-trip rate is $205 for the top 40 U.S. air routes, compared to $169 last year, a 21 percent
increase.
Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will increase 0.8 percent this Thanksgiving to
1.4 million travelers.
Hotel rates relatively stable, car rental rates decrease
According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, rates for AAA Three Diamond Rated lodgings are expected to remain relatively
flat, with travelers spending an average of $155 per night, same as last year. The average rate for a AAA Two Diamond
Rated hotel has risen four percent with an average nightly cost of $123 up from $118 a year ago.
Daily car rental rates will average $52, compared to $60 last year, a decrease of 13 percent.
Top Thanksgiving Destinations:
This year’s top destinations for Thanksgiving based on AAA bookings include many popular West Coast cities, as well as
perennial family-friendly favorites:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Las Vegas, Nevada
San Francisco, California
San Diego, California
Orlando, Florida
New York City, New York
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Anaheim, California
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Seattle, Washington
#AAAToTheRescue this Thanksgiving
AAA expects to rescue more than 370,000 motorists nationally and about 5,000 in Oregon and Idaho this Thanksgiving,
with the primary reasons being dead batteries, flat tires and lockouts. Before heading out on a road trip, AAA recommends
you check the condition of your battery and tires and pack an emergency kit. Have your vehicle inspected by a trusted
repair shop, such as one of the nearly 7,000 AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities across North America. Members can
download the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com or call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.
Download the AAA Mobile app before a Thanksgiving getaway
Before setting out on a Thanksgiving trip, download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. The app can
help map a route, find lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA
roadside assistance, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and more. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.
With the AAA Mobile app, travelers can also find more than 58,000 AAA Approved and Diamond Rated hotels and
restaurants via the TripTik Travel Planner. AAA’s is the only rating system that uses full-time, professionally trained
evaluators to inspect each property on an annual basis. Every AAA Approved establishment offers the assurance of
acceptable cleanliness, comfort and hospitality, and ratings of One to Five Diamonds help travelers find the right match for
amenities and services.
Holiday Forecast Methodology
AAA’s projections are based on economic forecasting and research by IHS Markit. The London-based business
information provider teamed with AAA in 2009 to jointly analyze travel trends during major holidays. AAA has been
reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades. The complete AAA / IHS 2016 Thanksgiving holiday
forecast can be found at NewsRoom.AAA.com.
AAA news releases, high resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are available on
the AAA NewsRoom at NewsRoom.AAA.com.
For more information visit www.AAA.com. AAA Oregon/Idaho provides more than 785,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and
automotive-related services, and is an affiliate of AAA National, serving more than 56 million members in North America. 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.