- More than 2.5 million Michigan residents are expected to travel at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving, an all-time high for the holiday
- Most Michiganders traveling will do so by car. AAA predicts 50,000 more residents will hit the road compared to last year
- Gas prices have slightly increased since last week, but statewide prices are down 16 cents compared to the previous year
More Michiganders plan to hit the road for Turkey Day and may find themselves spending less money than they did last year.
Over 2.5 million Michigan residents are expected to travel at least 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving, 65,000 more than last year, which is an all-time high for Thanksgiving travel, according to AAA.
The majority — nearly 2.3 million — will travel by car, which is 50,000 more than last year; 217,133 Michigan residents will travel by plane.
Michiganders are also expected to set a new air-travel record for Thanksgiving. Air travel has increased by 4% in Michigan since last year and 12% since 2019, according to data from AAA.
Despite domestic airfare increasing 3% this year, 5.84 million people nationwide will fly domestically this holiday, an increase of 2% compared to last year and a nearly 11% increase over 2019, AAA predicts.
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“We expect to see record travel numbers across the board,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group in a press statement.
“With more people taking to the roads, skies, rails, and sea; travelers should expect congested roads and longer lines at transportation terminals. AAA encourages travelers to develop their plan now and consider travel insurance, which provides compensation for flight cancellations, delays, and lost luggage.”
Prices at the pump
While gas prices in Michigan have slightly increased by 9 cents per gallon in the last week, prices are 16 cents lower than they were last year. As of Monday, Michigan motorists were paying an average of $3.12 for a gallon of regular gas compared to $3.28 last year.
Ann Arbor: $3.18
Benton Harbor: $3.09
Metro Detroit: $3.12
Flint: $3.09
Grand Rapids/Muskegon/Holland: $3.16
Jackson: $3.19
Lansing/East Lansing: $3.13
Marquette: $3.05
Saginaw/Bay City/ Midland: $3.08
Traverse City: $3.01
Gas prices are also down nationally. Motorists were paying an average of $3.07 for a gallon of regular gas as of Monday, compared to $3.32 last year.
Best and worst times to hit the road
Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, is the best time to travel, when interstates and highways are typically clear, according to transportation data company INRIX.
The worst times to travel by car over Thanksgiving are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.
Drivers going home on Sunday should leave early in the morning, according to INRIX. Those going back on Monday should expect a mix of travelers and work commuters on the road.
“With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, in a press statement.
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