As Thanksgiving approaches, AAA predicts that more than 1.6 million North Carolina residents will travel 50 miles or more this holiday period, a 2% increase over last year.

Whether by car, air, train or sea, AAA expects much congestion on roads and longer wait times at transportation terminals this season.

“Travel demand has been strong all year and that trend will continue with one of the busiest Thanksgivings on record,” said Debbie Haas, vice president of travel for AAA, said in a statement.

AAA expects 55.4 million Americans to travel this Thanksgiving, up 2.3%. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, AAA says most travelers are “driving to Grandma’s house” this season.

Nearly 1.43 million North Carolinians are predicted to take the roads, almost 18,000 more than last year’s holiday season.

Although more drivers are expected to be on the road this year, AAA believes that gas prices should remain low this holiday season. Because of the strong domestic gasoline supply, prices at the pump are dropping. Updated gas price averages can be found online.

Car travel is not the only mode of transportation getting attention. The number of North Carolinians traveling by cruise, bus and train this Thanksgiving season is up by 12% compared with 2022. Haas describes the growth as a remarkable comeback despite challenges brought on by the pandemic.

“Holiday cruises are highly sought-after as a means for large families to travel together and visit multiple destinations without having to worry about the cooking and cleanup,” Haas said. 

This year, more air travelers are generally paying less for domestic trips compared with last year, and more for international travel, except for flights. About 110,000 North Carolinians are expected to travel by air this Thanksgiving season.

Airfare for domestic flights is slightly more expensive this season than international travel. AAA Carolinas made a post on social media explaining that airfare is expected to increase 5% this year while the costs of hotels and rental cars have decreased.

Average travel times are expected to be as high as 80% longer than normal in some areas, and AAA says Wednesday will likely be the busiest day for road traffic. Transportation data provider INRIX recommends that motorists leave early Wednesday morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid the heaviest traffic.

“Travelers should be prepared for long delays, especially in and around major metros,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, in a statement. He urged drivers to use traffic apps, Department of Transportation alerts and 511 to get real-time information on road conditions. 

Travelers are encouraged to begin developing travel plans now and be courteous to others. AAA urges drivers to get their car inspected before the trip, identify alternate routes in case of traffic and always be attentive of the road. 

For those flying, AAA suggests checking in early online, arriving to the airport two to three hours before the scheduled departure time, keeping a close eye on flight status through a travel app, and packing medication and a change of clothes in case a flight is canceled or delayed.  

“It’s not too late to purchase travel insurance, which can be extremely valuable for air travelers,” Haas said. “There are policies that can provide compensation for flight delays for as little as three hours. And if a flight is canceled, passengers can receive compensation for covered out-of-pocket expenses.”