Whether it’s by car, plane or another mode, millions of Americans are expected to travel this Thanksgiving holiday season. According to motor club federation AAA, it is predicting more than 73 million Americans – 90% of the holiday travelers – will reach their destination by car. That and other travel statistics were released in its recent 2025 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast.
Nationwide, AAA expects 81.8 million Americans to travel by some mode for Thanksgiving. That’s an increase of 1.6 million travelers compared to 2024. The rise cements Thanksgiving’s position as the busiest travel holiday of the year, surpassing both Memorial Day and Independence Day.
In addition to the 73 million on the road, another 6 million travelers (up 2% from 2024) nationwide are expected to fly domestically over the season. AAA identifies the season as the period beginning Tuesday, Nov. 25, and running through Monday, Dec. 1.
Closer to home, AAA also is projecting a slight increase in travelers crisscrossing Iowa and Illinois.
In AAA’s West North Central (WNC) Region, which includes Iowa and Nebraska among others, 6.54 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home. This marks a 1.8% increase over 2024 and continues the Midwest region’s growing Thanksgiving travel season, AAA said in a recent news release.
In Illinois, AAA projects more than 4.1 million will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday. This also is a year-over-year increase of 1.8% increase and sets a new Thanksgiving travel record for the Land of Lincoln.
Allegiant grows capacity
Debbie Haas, vice president of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group, said Midwesterners “are embracing the Thanksgiving spirit with record-breaking travel plans this year. Whether it’s driving across the state or flying across the country, people are making time to connect with loved ones.”
She added that even with travelers’ concerns about flight cancellations, they “are showing flexibility and resilience and relying most on driving.”
At the Quad Cities International Airport (QCIA) in Moline, spokesperson Ashleigh Davis said while the regional airport is gearing up for a slightly busier weekend, this travel season impacts the larger airports more as they add flights and fill more seats.
But the QCIA saw its longtime low airfare carrier Allegiant add capacity around that week by adding one or two extra flights to certain destinations, she said.
Last year, the QCIA had just more than 8,300 passengers over the Thanksgiving week.
The airport recently celebrated its 15th anniversary of air service by Allegiant. Since the local service took off in 2010, Allegiant has flown more than 1.7 million passengers in and out of the Moline (MLI) airport.
Midwest travel stats
In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. They are based on data including macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism. That includes gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays.
In announcing the 2025 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast, Since 2000, AAA and SPGMI have partnered to quantify holiday travel volumes, AAA’s 2025 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast.
Among the travel company’s operations is a local AAA office in Bettendorf.
Here’s a closer look at the 2025 predictions by AAA for regions that include the bi-state Quad Cities:
West North Central (WNC)
That AAA region includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska and South Dakota.
- Total travelers: 6,547,000 (+1.8%).
- By car: 5,895,000 (+1.3%).
- By air: 306,000 (+1.8%)
- By other modes (bus, train, cruise): 345,000 (+12%)
Illinois Travelers
Travel volume projections for the region made up entirely of the State of Illinois include:
- Total travelers: 4,183,576 (+1.8%).
- By car: 3,694,455 (+1.5%).
- By air: 360,666 (+3.3%).
- By other modes: 128,455 (+8.4%)
Nationwide, travel by bus, train, and cruise is expected to rise by 8.5% and reach nearly 2.5 million travelers.
Have a backup plan
But experts warned that travelers need to be patient and plan ahead. Given recent flight reductions resulting from the ended federal shutdown, passenger numbers could be lower as flights get cancelled or travelers make other plans.
“With recent flight reductions and the potential for last-minute cancellations, we encourage air travelers to build flexibility into their plans,” Brian Ortner, AAA’s spokesperson for Nebraska and Iowa. “Consider flying on less busy days, booking early morning departures when delays are less likely, and having a backup plan in case your flight is disrupted.”
He added “Whether that means adjusting your return date or being ready to drive, a little preparation can go a long way in helping you navigate the unexpected.”
More travel tips
Other facts shared in AAA’s new forecast include:
- Airfares: Domestic airfares are similar to last year, averaging $700 for a round-trip. Flying on Thanksgiving Day can offer savings but return flights on Sunday and Monday tend to be the most expensive. Some travelers are adjusting their schedules to avoid peak travel days.
- Rental Cars: Hertz, AAA’s car rental partner, reports that Wednesday (Thanksgiving Eve) will be the busiest day for vehicle pick-ups. Good news is that domestic car rental rates are down 15% compared to last year.
- Gas Prices: Drivers can expect gas prices similar to last Thanksgiving, when the national average was $3.06 per gallon. Iowa saw a $2.71 average on Thanksgiving last year. Last year, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 roadside assistance calls nationwide. Many were for dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.
- Impaired Driving: AAA and MADD urge travelers to plan ahead and avoid impaired driving. Between 2019 and 2023, 868 people died in drunk-driving crashes during Thanksgiving. That accounts for 35% of all traffic fatalities during the holiday period.
