Carmageddon Coming: Thanksgiving Traffic to Be Worst Yet
Longer road trips and heavier traffic are in store this year, according to the survey. (Photo: Thinkstock)
More people are stuffing their travel bags along with their turkeys this year, and more people will be driving for it, according to a survey that gauged people’s plans for Thanksgiving.
The survey by TripAdvisor showed that of the more than 2,500 U.S. respondents polled, 43 percent plan to travel for Thanksgiving this year. That’s up from 36 percent who said they traveled for the holiday in 2013.
Also interesting: more people will be driving this year, and for longer distances. Sixty percent of those who are planning to travel for Thanksgiving said they’ll be driving, while 35 percent said they’ll fly. That’s a slight change from 57 percent drivers and 37 percent fliers last year.
Of the drivers, 60 percent said they’ll be traveling at least 200 miles – a 9 percent increase from 2013.
“While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why more travelers are hitting the road for Thanksgiving this year, we’ve seen the national gas price average drop 7 percent year-over-year,” Brooke Ferencsik, director of communications at TripAdvisor, told Yahoo Travel.
Ferencsik referenced statistics from the U.S. Energy Administration, showing that as of November 11, a gallon of gas fell from $3.27 to $3.03 year over year. Gas is estimated to be at a four-year low in the U.S.
Related: The Cheapest States for Gas, Just in Time for Your Pre-Winter Road Trip
The survey found that 74 percent of Thanksgiving travelers will be crossing state lines for their turkey, with 14 percent possibly skipping turkey altogether by taking international trips.
If you’re wondering what days are best to avoid the travel madness when leaving and returning home, the survey found a pretty even split in the run-up to Thanksgiving. Twenty-seven percent of respondents said they’d be leaving town before Monday, November 24; 25 percent the day before Thanksgiving; and another 22 percent on Thanksgiving Day.
Related: Start Planning Now: Where to Go for Thanksgiving This Year
Expect heavy traffic this season. (Photo: Thinkstock)
As for the return trip, 29 percent said they’ll head home Sunday the 30th; 25 percent later than Sunday; and 22 percent on Saturday. Sixty-three percent said they plan to travel during off-peak hours to avoid holiday traffic – if that actually happens, you might be better off not overthinking the time.
As for the most popular Thanksgiving destinations, major metropolitan cities predictably dominate the top 10, with New York City leading the way and Gatlinburg, Tenn., being the biggest outlier at No. 8.
Related: Ditch Your Family and Celebrate Thanksgiving at Sea
“Travelers consistently flock to major U.S. cities and New York is still the go-to spot for Thanksgiving this year,” Ferencsik said.
The No. 1 Thanksgiving destination: New York. (Courtesy: TripAdvisor)
Here’s the complete top 10:
1. New York City, New York
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Orlando, Florida
4. San Francisco, California
5. Chicago, Illinois
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
7. San Diego, California
8. Gatlinburg, Tennessee
9. Key West, Florida
10. Los Angeles, California
If the survey is any indication, travelers won’t just be hitting the road for family and friends: they’ll have shopping plans as well. Forty-one percent of travelers said they intend to spend more during the holiday this year, versus 12 percent who plan to spend less. Eighty-eight percent said they plan to shop for the holiday, with 61 percent lining up for Black Friday deals.
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