Buckle up for busy Thanksgiving travel
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A record-breaking 5.8 million Texans are expected to travel this week for Thanksgiving, per AAA.
Why it matters: Thanksgiving is still the busiest travel holiday of the year. AAA expects 81.8 million Americans to travel — the highest on record and 1.6 million more than in 2024.
The big picture: Nearly 90% of travelers are driving. AAA projects 73 million Americans, including 5.3 million Texans, will hit the road for trips of 50 miles or more.
- Holiday travel in Texas is rising for the seventh consecutive year.
Follow the money: Fuel prices are holding relatively steady. The average in Texas is $2.70 per gallon for regular unleaded, per AAA.
- That's down from its recent peak of nearly $3 in 2021.
Meanwhile, George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport expect more than 2.1 million travelers to pass through between Nov. 20 and Dec. 1, per Houston Airport System.
The latest: This is the first Thanksgiving IAH travelers will move through the new Terminal E ticketing lobby and expanded international departure and arrival curbs — upgrades designed to ease congestion and speed up the holiday rush.
Pro tips: For drivers, "as you get ready to hit the road, one of the easiest ways to save time and money is to fill up the night before your trip," Daniel Armbruster, spokesperson for AAA Texas, said in a statement.
- Make sure to check tires, battery and basic maintenance before driving.
- If flying, parking demand near airports is high, so reserve parking in advance.