MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – More Americans will be traveling for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
According to projections from AAA, 48.7 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving. That represents a 1.9 percent increase over 2015, and the most travelers for the November holiday since 2007.
In Wisconsin, an estimated 1,013,299 people are expected to use planes, trains and automobiles during the period from Wednesday, November 23, through Sunday, November 27.
“This is a continuation of a trend we’ve seen really over the past decade,” says Nick Jarmusz, Wisconsin director of public affairs for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “As the recession has ended and economic indicators have begun moving in the other direction, we’ve seen our travel numbers pick up year after year.”
More than 89 percent of holiday travelers are expected to get behind the wheel for the Thanksgiving holiday. In Wisconsin, that translates to 913,209 people driving, while 72,192 will fly and 27,896 Wisconsinites will use other modes of transportation.
GAS PRICES
As of Tuesday afternoon, the AAA’s website lists the average price for regular unleaded gas in the Green Bay area as $1.993. The national average is higher at $2.17.
“Gas prices are now on a similar course as last year, due in large part to lower oil prices,” Jarmusz says. “On this day last year, pump prices began a streak of declines that continued through the end of the month. Whether that happens again will depend on which direction oil prices go from here.”
The most popular travel dates are generally considered to be the Wednesday before the holiday and the Sunday after.
“That’s not to say that if you do wait and leave on Thursday, you’re not also going to run into some congestion or slowdowns, especially around larger metro areas like Green Bay or Milwaukee,” warns Jarmusz.
Jarmusz also advises drivers to stay alert behind the wheel, avoid distractions from within the vehicle and pack a winter driving kit just in case the weather turns cold next week.
