AAA predicts most Thanksgiving travellers in 13 years

HEATHROW, Fla. – AAA predicts this year will have the highest volume of Thanksgiving travel since 2005.

The Florida-based travel association said last week more than 54 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles (80 kilometres) from home during the week of Thanksgiving.

AAA estimates that will be 2.5 million travellers more than last year, just under a 5 per cent increase.

The vast majority of Thanksgiving travellers will hit the road. The travel group estimates that 48.5 million travellers will be driving.

More than 4.2 million travellers will be flying, and just under 1.5 million travellers will be taking trains, buses or cruise ships.

AAA, along with the analytics company INRIX, predicts that drivers in San Francisco, New York and Boston will see the biggest holiday-related delays — almost four times normal drive times.