Monday, November 24, 2008

Thanksgiving Travel - The driving decline continues



Our friends at AAA have forecast a small decline in the number of Americans traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This would be the first decline in Thanksgiving holiday travel since 2002 and the fourth consecutive holiday this year with a year-over-year decline.

Some 41 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from their homes for Thanksgiving weekend — a decrease of 600,000 travelers, or 1.4 percent, from last year’s total of 41.6 million travelers. (but really, who counts them once you're past the 40 million mark?)

More than 33.2 million Americans, or 81 percent of all holiday travelers, are expected to travel by automobile. That’s a 1.2-percent decrease from the 33.6 million people who drove a year ago. Even with the recent decline in gas prices, people are still reporting they're going to stay home.

Who will travel and where will they be?

  • Southeast: 8.8 million
  • West: 6.9 million
  • Midwest: 6.5
  • Great Lakes: 6.1 million - I think most of these 6.1 million people will be on I-71 along with me and my family.
  • Northeast: 4.8 million

Whether you're going over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house, or staying home, best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving. Safe travels wherever this week takes you!

1 comment:

John McClane said...

Enjoy the I-71 (whatever that is :-)) and the Great Lakes!