AAA Hawaii projects 14.2 million residents of Hawaii, Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period*, a 2.8% increase over last year’s record number of travelers. For the first time, AAA’s forecast includes the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving Day to better capture the flow of holiday travelers.
This year’s Thanksgiving travel volume in the Pacific States is also 4.8% higher than the pre-pandemic Thanksgiving holiday in 2019, when 13.6 million residents took holiday getaways.
Nationwide, AAA is also projecting this Thanksgiving to be the busiest on record, with 79.86 million travelers expected compared to 78.1 million in 2023 and 77.8 million in 2019.
By the Numbers
“Travel volumes for major holidays this year have consistently surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and the Thanksgiving holiday will be no exception,” said Vice President for Travel Products & Services Jena Miller. “This trend highlights growing consumer confidence to travel as families and friends jump on the opportunity to reconnect, whether through shared vacations or trips to visit loved ones.”
Hawaii is a Top Destination
Honolulu, HI is one of the top ten destinations for U.S. travelers. Nationwide, according to AAA Travel booking data, the top destinations are:
|
DOMESTIC |
INTERNATIONAL |
|
Orlando, FL |
Budapest, Hungary |
|
Miami, FL |
Mexicali, Mexico |
|
Fort Lauderdale, FL |
San Juan, Puerto Rico |
|
New York, NY |
Cancun, Mexico |
|
Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA |
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic |
|
Tampa, FL |
Rome, Italy |
|
Honolulu, HI |
Amsterdam, Netherlands |
|
San Francisco, CA |
Paris, France |
|
Las Vegas, NV |
Barcelona, Spain |
|
Atlanta, GA |
Munich, Germany |
Gas Prices
Thanksgiving travelers in Hawaii will pay the lowest average gas prices for this holiday since 2021. To find the cheapest gas prices closest to your location, use the AAA Mobile app, and visit gasprices.aaa.com to find the average gas prices at your destination or calculate the estimated gas cost for your Thanksgiving trip.
Travel Tips
- If traveling by automobile, make sure your vehicle maintenance is up-to-date and your tires and battery are in good condition. AAA expects to respond to more than 1,600 calls for help in Hawaii over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. If you need some help getting your vehicle road trip ready, visit AAA.com/AAR to find a reputable AAA-Approved Auto Repair facility near you.
- Air travelers should plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours ahead of time for international departures. The Auto Club recommends people who drive themselves to the airport to reserve a parking space to make sure you have one, download your airline’s app and check-in for your flight at home to avoid long lines at kiosks in the terminal.
About AAA
Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America’s largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of 64 million members across North America, including 57 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA has to offer or to become a member, visit AAA.com.
Don't forget to mention us on Instagram @aaaautoclubenterprises and Facebook @aaaautoclubenterprises .
*Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period
For this forecast, the Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as the seven-day period from Tuesday, November 26 to Monday, December 2. This is the first year the Thanksgiving forecast is a longer timeframe to include the Tuesday before the holiday and the Monday after. Historically, AAA only looked at Wednesday through Sunday.