AAA expects 81.5 million Americans to travel for Thanksgiving 2026, just under last year’s record. Orlando is the top domestic destination again, and airfare is up 17%.
Thanksgiving travel is staying near record levels, and Orlando is once again the top spot.
AAA’s 2026 Thanksgiving forecast projects 81.5 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday, Nov. 24, and Monday, Nov. 30, QUE.com reports. That is a hair below last year’s 81.6 million and ends a three-year streak of records.
Orlando leads AAA’s list of top domestic destinations, followed by Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
How many people will drive for Thanksgiving?
Most travelers will hit the road. AAA projects 72.9 million people will travel by car, down from 73.1 million last year, according to QUE.com.
Driving makes up nearly 90% of holiday travel. AAA links the small drop of about 200,000 drivers partly to fuel costs.
How many people will fly?
AAA expects 5.96 million Americans to fly domestically, down 0.2% from last year, QUE.com reports. Flyers make up just over 7% of Thanksgiving travelers.
Flights are getting pricier. Based on what AAA members paid when they booked, domestic round-trip Thanksgiving fares are up 17%, to an average of $800.
Are more people taking cruises for Thanksgiving?
Yes. Travel by bus, train and cruise is the only category growing this year. AAA expects 2.6 million people to travel that way, up 4.1%, according to QUE.com.
Florida’s cruise ports are a big reason the state stays on top. Port Canaveral and Port Everglades both send ships to the Caribbean and the Bahamas during the holiday week.
What are the top Thanksgiving destinations for 2026?
Florida dominates AAA’s domestic list. Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami hold the top three spots, followed by Anaheim and Los Angeles, then New York, QUE.com reports.
Detroit and Dallas-Fort Worth also made the top 10, thanks to their Thanksgiving Day football games.
On the international side, Budapest leads, followed by Cancun, Paris, Barcelona and Puerto Vallarta.
How much will gas cost for Thanksgiving?
Gas prices have been falling. The national average for regular gas was $3.94 on Nov. 11, down from $4.36 a month earlier, AAA data cited by USA Today shows.
GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan said prices could drop into the $3.70s or $3.60s by the holiday. Even so, he said it is “probably going to be the most expensive Thanksgiving ever at the gas pump.” AAA’s record Thanksgiving Day average was $3.58 in 2022.
What are the worst days to drive for Thanksgiving?
INRIX expects the heaviest traffic on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, plus the Sunday and Monday after, according to QUE.com. Big metro areas like New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Boston could see more than double their normal traffic.
Rental car demand will also peak early in the week. Hertz expects the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving to be its busiest pickup days, with Orlando among the top markets.
What does this mean for Disney World and Universal Orlando?
Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest weeks of the year at Orlando’s theme parks. Several Magic Kingdom dates for Disney’s paid Premier Pass have already sold out for that week, Disney Dining reports, and Universal Orlando is extending park hours.
Universal Studios Florida is scheduled to run 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Nov. 22 through 26, with Epic Universe open until 9 p.m., according to Disney Fanatic.
If you are flying into Orlando International Airport, plan for long security lines on the busiest days. Arriving early and checking wait times in the airport’s app can help.
How can you save on Thanksgiving travel?
Flying on Thanksgiving Day itself is often cheaper, since most travelers head home on Sunday and Monday. Shifting your return by a day or two can also cut costs.
If you are driving, filling up before you leave the city can help, since highway gas stations often charge more. And for theme park trips, booking dining and Lightning Lane times early can save time once you arrive.
Are you traveling for Thanksgiving this year? Tell us if you are headed to a theme park.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
QUE.com (Nov. 14, 2026), AAA’s 2026 forecast, destinations, INRIX and Hertz
USA Today (Nov. 2026), AAA gas price data and GasBuddy comments
Disney Fanatic (Oct. 27, 2026), Universal Orlando’s Thanksgiving week hours
Disney Dining (Nov. 14, 2026), Magic Kingdom Premier Pass sellouts
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