TAMPA, Fla. — The American Automobile Association (AAA) predicts more than 3 million Floridians to travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday this year.
This number is the second highest on record since 2005, according to the nonprofit. A total of 87,000, or 3 percent, more holiday travelers are expected this year.
“Travel demand has been strong all year and that trend will continue with one of the busiest Thanksgivings on record,” Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said in a statement. “With more people taking to the roads, skies, rails and sea; travelers should expect congested roads and longer lines at transportation terminals.
"AAA encourages travelers to develop their plan now, leave early, and be courteous to others.”
Out of the 3 million people from the Sunshine State forecasted to be traveling, AAA explains that 2.77 million will drive, 209,985 will fly and 50,477 will use another form of transportation.
On a larger scale, AAA estimates more than 55.3 million Americans will travel for Thanksgiving – marking the third-largest travel volume on record. About 49.1 million travelers are expected to drive while 4.7 million will fly and 1.6 million will use other transportation.
And with driving seemingly being the most popular way to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, it's perfect timing for gas to be less expensive.
Specifically in Florida, gas prices are moving lower again after they rose unexpectedly last week, AAA explains in a separate news release.
The state average was sitting at $3.16 per gallon on Monday and went up 8 cents by Wednesday. But the upward trend reversed course and went down 2 cents a day throughout the rest of the week.
"Last week's gas price hike didn't make much sense, considering how oil and gasoline futures prices have steadily fallen through the past few weeks," AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said in a statement. "Either way, the jump at the pump was short-lived and those gains were mostly erased by the weekend.
"Oil prices are now at multi-month lows, which should help keep gas prices low through the holidays."
Nationwide, most travelers who are planning on hitting the road soon should also see less expensive gas prices at the pump. This time last year, the country saw an average gas price of $3.58 per gallon.
The nonprofit believes prices at the pump will stay low through the holiday season unless oil prices suddenly spike.
To read more about the Thanksgiving holiday travel forecast, click here.