Early Preview: Thanksgiving And Holiday Travel Trends For 2024

As the holiday season approaches, insights from a recent survey shed light on travel plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas 2024. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. airlines transported 853 million passengers in 2022, a significant increase from 658 million in 2021. The Sunday following Thanksgiving consistently ranks as one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Survey Insights: A Busy Holiday Season Ahead

The Vacationer, a travel agency specializing in theme park excursions, cruises, and resort vacations, indicates that over 50% of respondents plan to travel during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, suggesting that 2024 will be one of the busiest seasons on record.

In 2023, AAA projected that approximately 55.4 million Americans would travel for Thanksgiving, while another 115.2 million would embark on journeys during the Christmas period—the second-highest travel volume since 2000.

Of those intending to travel in 2024, about 22% will journey exclusively for Thanksgiving, while nearly 29% plan to travel for both Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, which include Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

The survey also revealed that residents of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are the most likely to travel, while those in the Plains states are more inclined to stay home.

Increased Travel Spending Expected

Travel expenditure is anticipated to rise, with nearly one-third of Americans planning to spend $1,000 or more on essentials such as gas, flights, and accommodations.

According to analysts at The Vacationer, American adults over 60 are the least likely to allocate funds for Thanksgiving travel this year, with 48.04% indicating they will spend nothing. Conversely, individuals aged 30 to 44 are the most likely demographic to invest in travel during this holiday period. As holiday travel approaches, families and individuals alike are preparing for what promises to be a bustling season of travel and reunions.