US braces for one of the busiest Thanksgiving travel seasons in years as 81.8M Americans hit the roads, skies

The U.S. is bracing for one of the busiest Thanksgiving travel seasons in years, with millions of Americans hitting the roads and soaring through the skies to see loved ones.

AAA noted that its car rental partner, Hertz, said that Wednesday would be the busiest day for pickup, with the top five markets with the highest demand being Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Newark. Additionally, AAA said its booking data shows domestic car rentals are 15% cheaper compared to last Thanksgiving.

While it may be busier on the roads, it will also be cheaper to drive home for holiday meals this year. 

GasBuddy predicted a national average of $3.02 per gallon over the holiday, matching last year's price. Both 2024 and 2025 now share the distinction of marking the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since the pandemic, when the national average hit $3.39 a gallon in 2021 and $3.56 in 2022.

Ahead of the holiday celebrations, AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are reminding travelers that driving while impaired makes the roads dangerous for everyone. Both AAA and MADD are urging drivers to have a plan before imbibing by using a rideshare app, taking public transit or designating a sober driver.

Despite the rush, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford was optimistic that the FAA would be prepared to tackle the challenge.

"Thanks to the dedication of our air traffic controllers and every FAA employee, we are ready for the holiday rush and take pride in helping travelers reach their friends and families during this important time of year," Bedford said in a statement. "I am deeply grateful to our entire FAA team. Even through a period of record-high traffic, their unwavering commitment keeps the system running safely."

"There's no question we've lost sight of what makes travel fun - the excitement, the relaxation, the cordial conversations," the Department of Transportation's statement on the campaign reads. "Americans already feel divided and stressed. We can all do our part to bring back civility, manners, and common sense."

Fox News Digital's Amanda Macias contributed to this report.