With government and health officials nationwide calling for moderation when it comes to family gatherings at Thanksgiving to help stem the tide of the coronavirus pandemic, AAA Travel is reporting travel will be on the decidedly lighter side when it comes to the typical number of folks on the roads and at airports. Nevertheless, they are advising caution and preparation for those who do hit the road.
According to AAA Travel, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health concerns and high unemployment, are impacting Americans’ decisions to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday. With officials stressing that staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick, AAA anticipates at least a 10-percent drop in travel – the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession of 2008.
Based on mid-October forecast models, AAA would have expected up to 50-million Americans to travel for Thanksgiving – a drop from 55 million in 2019. In Michigan, the expectation is 1.6 million travelers, down 8.1-percent from 2019. However, as the holiday approaches and Americans monitor the public health landscape, including rising positive coronavirus case numbers, renewed quarantine restrictions and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) travel health notices, AAA expects the actual number of holiday travelers will be even lower.
Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson for AAA-The Auto Club Group, says, “AAA acknowledges that the decision to travel is a personal one,” and adds, “The CDC says staying home is the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19. For those who still decide to travel, we urge you to take every precaution possible to protect yourself and others.”
In addition to CDC guidance, travelers should also be aware of local and state travel restrictions, including testing requirements and quarantine orders.
What to Know Before You Go
- Plan Ahead. Check with state and local authorities where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination to learn about local circumstances and any restrictions that may be in place.
- Follow Public Health Guidance. Consistent use of face masks combined with social distancing (at least 6 feet) and regular handwashing are the best ways to lower your risk of contracting COVID-19. Be sure to pack face masks, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer and a thermometer to help protect and monitor your health. Also pack water and extra snacks to reduce the need to stop along your trip.
- Verify Before You Go. Call ahead to minimize any last minute surprises.
Hotels – Prior to any hotel stay, call ahead to ensure your hotel is open and ask what precautions they are taking to protect guests. Ask about social distancing protocols like capacity reductions in common spaces, hotel staff requirements to wear masks at all times and if all amenities are available, like restaurant dining.
Car rentals – If renting a car, ask what has been done to clean the vehicle. Hertz, for example, has introduced Hertz Gold Standard Clean, an enhanced vehicle disinfectant and sanitization process. For extra peace of mind, use disinfecting wipes to wipe down door handles, steering wheels, shifters and control panels.
You can visit AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map for the latest state and local travel restrictions, and use TripTik.AAA.com to plan your road trip and help determine which rest stops, gas stations, restaurants and hotels are open along your route.
Those who decide to travel are likely to drive shorter distances and reduce the number of days they are away, making road trips the dominant form of travel this Thanksgiving. Travel by automobile is projected to fall 4.3-percent, to 47.8 million travelers and account for 95-percent of all holiday travel.
Woodland says, “The wait-and-see travel trend continues to impact final travel decisions, especially for the Thanksgiving holiday,” and adds, “The decision to travel is a personal one. For those who are considering making a trip, the majority will go by car, which provides the flexibility to modify holiday travel plans up until the day of departure.”
AAA reminds those hitting the road to plan their route ahead. To minimize the number of stops along the way, pack meals, extra snacks and drinks in addition to an emergency roadside kit.
Before you head out, be sure your vehicle is ready for the trip to avoid a breakdown along the way. AAA expects to rescue more than 413,000 Americans at the roadside this Thanksgiving. AAA makes it easy to request assistance – by phone, app or online – and members can track the service technician’s progress as they make their way to your vehicle.
AAA anticipates Thanksgiving air travel volume will be down by nearly half of prior years – to 2.4 million travelers. That would be the largest one-year decrease on record. For those travelers, AAA notes holiday airfares are the lowest in three years. If flying, AAA reminds air travelers that in-flight amenities, including food and beverage services, may not be available. Also, as a precaution, wipe down your seat, armrest, belt buckle and tray table using disinfecting wipes.
Travel by other modes, including buses, trains and cruises, is expected to decline 76-percent, to 353,000 travelers, as cruise ships remain docked and more travelers opt for car trips instead of taking buses or trains.
Those who decide to hit the road for Thanksgiving will find cheaper gas prices. On average, gas prices nationally are nearly 50-cents cheaper than this time last year. The Michigan state average is currently $1.99 per gallon. Thanksgiving gas prices haven’t been that low since 2015.
Woodland reports, “Thanksgiving gas prices should remain lower than last year, but drivers shouldn’t be surprised if they inch higher in the coming weeks,” suggesting, “The fuel market is excited about the news of a possible coronavirus vaccine and the hope of an eventual return to normalcy. Crude oil and wholesale gasoline prices both increased this week, which should stop gas prices from falling much further.”
Traffic volume is expected to be less than in years’ past, but travelers in major urban areas will experience increased delays at popular bottlenecks, up to 30-percent above normal pandemic congestion levels. INRIX expects Wednesday afternoon to see the highest volume of traffic.
