Thanksgiving Travel Tips from AAA

(ABC 6 NEWS) – Thanksgiving is almost a week away and you may be finalizing your travel plans.

AAA predicts over 54 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home on Turkey Day.

Despite higher gas prices, 89 percent of all Thanksgiving travelers will hit the road to their destination this year.

“Gas prices are a lot higher than they have been in the past,” Meredith Mitts, Public Affairs Specialist for AAA (Minnesota/Iowa) said.

Gas prices are high. It will affect you at the pump when you travel this year.

“I know it’s a downer, but it’s not keeping people from traveling as we’re seeing pre pandemic numbers,” Mitts said.

According to GasBuddy, gas prices will be 30 cents per gallon higher than last year.

In Minnesota the average is $3.56 a gallon and in Iowa it’s a bit cheaper at $3.50 a gallon.

If you choose to touch the sky, expect to see a lot of people.

AAA says over four million people will fly to their destinations this year – that’s an increase of more than 330,000 air passengers when this was last studied by AAA in 2019.

Travel prices are also mostly higher than last year. Airfares cost 22 percent more, hotels 17 percent more, and car rentals are the exception, 7 percent less.

“If you are looking to fly, first I hope you already have your flight, if not you should be booking it now rather than later to make sure you get to wherever you’re going,” Mitts said.