Americans once again are expecting to be traveling on the nation’s roads or flying to visit loved ones during 2023’s Thanksgiving weekend and over the Christmas holidays a short month later.

AAA is projecting 55.4 million people will travel more than 50 miles over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. This year’s Thanksgiving forecast is an increase of 2.3% over last year. This marks the third highest Thanksgiving forecast since AAA began tracking holiday travel.

Warren resident Mikenna McClurg and her son, Charlie, 11, are traveling to Naples, Florida, to visit her grandmother who recently lost her sister.

“This will be the first year she will be in her condo without either her sister or husband,” McClurg said. “We want to be there.”

McClurg described this as the first year she will travel to Florida to visit family during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Waiting until the last minute to schedule her flight, McClurg felt a sense of sticker shock at the cost.

“We are hoping because we’re leaving early morning on Thanksgiving Day, we won’t have any problem at the airports,” she said. “Most people will have already arrived at their destinations.”

Lt. Daniel Morrison of the Ohio Highway Patrol Southington Post said there them.

“The main thing for people is to be safe when on the road,” Morrison said. “If you’re going to be drinking while at family event or other events, then have designated drivers available, call Uber, Lyft or a taxi service to provide transportation.”

Morrison also reminded people that Ohio has a new distracted driving law that allows law enforcement to stop vehicles if drivers are seen using their cellphones. Previously, drivers could be stopped and cited for distracted driver only as part of another offense.

Under the new law, distracted driving is a primary offense and drivers can be cited even if that is the only violation.

“Drivers cannot be holding, dialing or talking on a cellphone while driving,” Morrison said. “They can be talking while using Bluetooth.”

Since safety is the No. 1 concern any time people are in cars, Morrison recommended to ensure everyone in vehicles wear safety belts and younger children are strapped in appropriate-age car seats.

“Because traffic volumes are expected to increase, families should build in some extra time before they leave for their visits and the return to their homes,” he said. “Drivers should stay vigilant and be focused on what other drivers around you are doing. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted.”

Cost of driving

Just in time for the Thanksgiving weekend, gasoline prices are declining in northeast Ohio. Several area gas stations in Warren and Hubbard were selling regular gasoline at prices as low as $2.99 per gallon Saturday. Prices at many other area stations were hovering between $3.10 and $3.20.

The national price for gasoline Thursday was $3.34, which is 16 cents less than one month ago, according to AAA.

Over 2022’s Thanksgiving holiday, AAA reported the national cost of gasoline was $3.56 per gallon.

Gas prices usually fall around Thanksgiving because of cheaper blends of gasoline and fewer people driving, though that hasn’t been the case over the past two years because of COVID-19 imbalances and Russia’s war with Ukraine., Patrick De Haan, head petroleum analysis for the website GasBuddy.com, reported.

“The national average is at its lowest level since late February,” said De Haan. “I think the national average will probably bottom out here and stay relatively low through the winter months and then start going up next spring. This is normal.”

Some 55.4 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles between Wednesday and next Sunday, according to AAA. Most of them, 49.1 million, will travel by motor vehicle, an increase of 1.7 percent from last year, the agency said.

Airlines

Janice Sullinger, owner of Cortland Travel since 1978, said she expects the number if people traveling by plane for Thanksgiving to pick up this year over last year, which was higher than travel in 2021.

Sullinger closed Cortland Travel’s former storefront office due to COVID-19’s adverse impact on her business .

“It was hard to shut down the storefront,” Sullinger said. “I now work out of my home. We were stagnant for about a year and a half. It has picked up a lot this year.”

“We had about 40 percent more people signing up for trips last year and are now seeing about 70 percent more signing up for trips this year compared to our pre-COVID years,” she said. “There has been a steady increase in numbers. I am hoping to get back to my pre-COVID numbers.”

Thanksgiving travel usually centers on people visiting friends and family and, generally, is very affordable, according to Sullinger. Those wanting to plan trips over the Christmas season will have to dig deeper into their pockets to pay for flights, hotels and events.

“Christmas travels usually are destination vacations,” Sullinger said. “People generally want to get away and have experiences.”

Regardless whether the vacation trip is for Thanksgiving or Christmas, Sullinger warns the closer to the holiday the more expensive it will be to pay for it.

Bookings, whether for flights or hotels, should be done at least three weeks in advance of travel to get some of the least expensive rates.

“Each week closer to the holiday, the more expensive the trip likely will be,” she said.

AAA reports the average price for domestic flights is $681, up 5% from 2022. The average price for international fights is $1,231, which is down 5.7% from 2022.