INDIANA – GasBuddy, the leading fuel savings platform, has revealed the findings of its 2024 annual Thanksgiving Travel Survey, showing that 72% of Americans plan to take a road trip this holiday season. This marks a sharp 75% increase from the 41% who traveled by car in 2023, with many Americans taking advantage of falling gas prices—currently below $3 per gallon in 29 states.
After years of pandemic-influenced travel restrictions and shifts, this year’s survey data signals a return to more traditional Thanksgiving travel plans, with the percentage of road trippers climbing back toward pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, 65% of Americans drove to their Thanksgiving destinations, a figure that was notably lower during the pandemic years, including 2020, when only 35% of travelers chose to drive.
GasBuddy forecasts that the national average gas price will hover around $2.98 per gallon for the Thanksgiving travel period, a slight decrease from the current national average of $3.02 per gallon. This decline comes as gas prices continue to ease from their summer highs, offering some relief for road travelers.
“Americans are eager to get back on the road and visit loved ones this Thanksgiving, with the majority opting for the convenience and flexibility of driving, especially as gas prices fall below $3 in over half of the country,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “Although some travelers may feel the pinch of higher fuel prices, most are undeterred and willing to absorb the extra costs to reunite with family. Gas prices have dropped nearly 70 cents from the summer highs, which should help make road trips more affordable for millions of Americans this holiday.”
Key findings from GasBuddy’s 2024 Thanksgiving Travel Survey include:
- Mode of Travel: 10% of respondents plan to fly, while 87% are not traveling at all.
- Reasons for Not Traveling: The top reasons cited for not traveling are having nowhere to go (33%), high fuel prices (16%), and travel not fitting into their budget (19%).
- Repeat Road Trippers: 60% of those driving this year also went last year, citing the flexibility of road trips (48%) and proximity to their destination (39%) as the primary reasons for choosing to drive.
- Travel Time: 60% expect to spend 1-6 hours in the car, with 66% driving more than 100 miles.
- Crossing State Lines: 56% will be crossing state lines, and 68% plan to use loyalty or cashback programs, including GasBuddy’s Pay with GasBuddy program, to save on fuel.
GasBuddy also predicts that road trips will remain a popular and affordable option for travelers as gas prices are expected to stay seasonally low during the holidays.
For more travel insights and money-saving tips, visit GasBuddy’s blog.
