Detroit Evening Report: AAA Michigan says Thanksgiving travel close to hitting pre-pandemic levels
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The American Automobile Association (AAA) of Michigan says it expects Thanksgiving travel to approach pre-pandemic levels this year.
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The auto club predicts 1.7 million people in Michigan will travel at least 50 miles from home this weekend. AAA spokesperson Adrienne Woodland says airline travel may exceed 2019 numbers.
“In 2019, we had about 155,000 Michiganders fly for the holiday. In 2022, we’re expecting more than 167,000,” Woodland predicts.
Most travelers will be on the road during the extended holiday weekend. Woodland says drivers could pay prices they haven’t seen since Thanksgiving 2012, when the average price was $3.61 per gallon. It’s $3.79 a gallon today — 23 cents cheaper than a week ago — but that shouldn’t be a significant deterrent to holiday travelers.
“Higher gas prices don’t seem to be enough to stop people from traveling to be with family and friends,” Woodland shared. “We’ve found that when gas prices are high, travelers look to offset the added cost by spending less on a hotel, shopping or dining out.”
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