File photo: WRN
If you’re heading out for the long Thanksgiving weekend, expect plenty of company on the roads and in the airports.
Thanksgiving travel is expected to be back at pre-recession levels this year. According to a new survey from AAA, about 46 million Americans plan to hit the road or take to the skies later this week, with about 950,000 of those travelers coming from Wisconsin. Nick Jarmusz with AAA-Wisconsin says that’s up about four percent from last year.
Jarmusz says the increase is largely the result of continued economic improvement. He says “that is the biggest factor, people’s confidence in the economy is making them more comfortable in taking a trip this year.”
While gas prices are at their lowest level in years, he says it’s not having a huge influence on most travel decisions. “Even if prices were higher than they were right now, we think we would be seeing the same travel numbers.”
Still, with a statewide average in Wisconsin of about $2.84 a gallon, he says it’s a “very nice bonus” for those planning on driving to their destination.
About 90 percent of holiday travelers will be going by car. The busiest travel periods will be on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.
