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Thanksgiving travel increases for fourth consecutive year

By WEEK Producer

Thanksgiving travel increases for fourth consecutive year

November 13, 2012 Updated Nov 13, 2012 at 11:40 AM CDT

AURORA, Ill. -- AAA projects Thanksgiving travel will increase for the fourth consecutive year, with 43.6 million Americans taking to the road and skies. 

This figure follows the trend in Illinois as 2.3 million travelers will travel for the holiday, a 0.6 percent increase over last year.

"Thanksgiving travel his a decade low in 2008 when only 37.8 million Americans traveled," said AAA Chicago Regional President Brad Roeber.  "Since that year, we have seen a steady increase in the number of travelers taking to the roads and skies for the holiday.  Americans continue to find ways to economize their budgets so they can gather around the holiday table."

Automobile continues to be the dominant mode of transportation, as 90 percent of travelers will choose to drive.

AAA says the Wednesday before Thanksgiving will be the busiest travel day and the following Sunday will be the largest day for return trips.

For more information, please visit http://media.aaachicago.com/news/aaa-thanksgiving-travel.print.

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