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Holiday travel is expensive in 2021. Hotel prices are up 39% over last year’s prices. Rental car prices are up 66%. Average nationwide gas prices are $1.29 higher than they were a year ago. At some California pumps, regular gas currently costs over $5 a gallon. Whether you are hopping a plane or planning a road trip, getting home for the holidays will probably not be cheap this year.

AAA predicts 53 million Americas will travel on Thanksgiving weekend, 2021

2021 Thanksgiving travel forecast predicts traffic | Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
AAA forecasts heavy traffic for Thanksgiving weekend 2021 | Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

According to the AAA, 56 million Americans traveled for the 2019 Thanksgiving weekend. With the COVID-19 pandemic, that number plummeted to 47.1 million in 2020. Most of the 2020 travelers drove. A fraction of the normal number of travelers took public transit or flew.

The AAA predicts that the total of 2021 Thanksgiving weekend travelers will return to near pre-pandemic numbers. The association forecasts 53.4 million Americans will travel during the long Thanksgiving weekend.

More than 90% of 2021 Thanksgiving weekend travelers will drive. AAA predicts 48.3 million Americans will travel by car for the holiday. In addition, the association estimates 4.2 million Americans will fly. Finally, it predicts 1 million Americans will take a bus, train, or cruise.

Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA travel explains, “borders are open and new health and safety guidelines are in place, travel is once again high on the list for Americans.”

With demand skyrocketing, gas prices are up $1.29/gallon on average

Millions of more Americans who did not travel for Thanksgiving 2020 are planning to travel for Thanksgiving 2021. These added travelers are driving up demand for gasoline, rental cars, and hotel rooms. As a result, the cost of these goods is rising.

Some think Thanksgiving travel is too expensive this year. When gas prices rose to 60% higher than this time last year, President Biden wrote a letter to the Federal Trade Commission. The President suggested gas companies are taking advantage of holiday demand to hike prices. He asked the Commission to investigate further.

“I do not accept hard-working Americans paying more for gas because of anti-competitive or otherwise potentially illegal conduct.”

President Joseph Biden

Thanksgiving travel may be slow as well as expensive in 2021

High numbers of travelers are making thanksgiving travel expensive this weekend. | Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Experts predict 4.2 million travelers will take to the skies | Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The explosion in holiday traffic will test more systems than the gas stations and rental car companies. AAA expects long lines at airports. The agency urges fliers to arrive at the airport at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.

AAA also expects that with so many drivers on the road, some will run into trouble. The agency predicts it will receive 400,000 requests for roadside assistance during Thanksgiving weekend 2021. Obviously, these broken-down vehicles could clog already congested roadways. This may be a good year to allow for extra driving time.

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Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.