AAA: Fewer folks hitting the road

COEUR d'ALENE — AAA projects that the number of Thanksgiving travelers will be reduced by at least 10% this year due to the effects of the pandemic. It’s predicted to be the lowest travel volume since the Great Recession, and the end of 11 straight years of travel growth for the holiday weekend.

The Thanksgiving holiday period is defined as the five days from Wednesday, Nov. 25 to Sunday, Nov. 29.

While many Americans may have the disposable income for a holiday getaway, consumer confidence is in limbo, and travel restrictions or health and safety concerns will discourage a large number from doing so, according to AAA.

“Conditions are changing rapidly, so we would expect most Thanksgiving travel this year to involve shorter distances and the flexibility that you get with a last-minute road trip,” said Matthew Conde, public affairs director for AAA Idaho. “A common theme will be ‘wait and see,’ but some people who have been separated from family for months will decide that this is the time to get together.”

Based on mid-October data, AAA would have expected a 10% decrease in travel, with 50 million Americans taking a trip for turkey and all the trimmings this year and 266,000 Idahoans among them.

But a recent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases means that the actual turnout could be even lower.

“Last year, 89 percent of travelers made a Thanksgiving journey by car, but this year, it will be closer to 95 percent,” Conde said. “That means that the airports won’t be nearly as crowded, but the roads could still be busy at times, particularly on Tuesday afternoon when holiday travelers co-mingle with commuters during the evening rush hour.”

Thanksgiving air travel will be down by nearly half from previous years.

Most Americans plan to skip other modes of travel during the holiday weekend, the release said. The cruise industry remains closed, and just 353,000 people are expected to travel by bus or train for the holiday – a decrease of nearly 76 percent.