One Million Residents To Travel In Maryland Over Thanksgiving: AAA

More than one million Maryland residents are expected to travel this Thanksgiving holiday, and the vast majority of those will take to the roads by car and spend less money to fill their gas tanks, according to estimates from AAA Mid-Atlantic.

AAA is projecting the number of Thanksgiving holiday travelers, nationwide and in Maryland, will increase for the eighth consecutive year. Nationwide, 48.7 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, a 1.9 percent increase over 2015, and the most Thanksgiving travelers since 2007.

The Maryland travel forecast is a 3 percent increase and the highest travel volume in over 10 years, since 2005, the agency says. AAA defines the Thanksgiving holiday travel period as Wednesday, Nov. 23, through Sunday, Nov. 27.

“Many more consumers nationwide, and in Maryland, are expected to open their wallets for this year’s Thanksgiving holiday thanks to improvements in the economy during the second half of 2016,” said Ragina Cooper Averella, public and government affairs manager for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Rising wages, increased consumer spending, and overall strength in consumer confidence appear to be the driving factors contributing to this year’s rise in holiday travel volume.”

Drivers will save at the pump as they get ready to hit the state's highways; expect to pay the second-cheapest Thanksgiving gas prices since 2008, when both the national and Maryland average price was $1.85 per gallon.
As of Nov. 14, the national average price for gasoline was $2.17 cents per gallon, 12 cents more than the same period a year ago ($2.05). Maryland’s average was $2.20, 11 cents higher than last year’s holiday average of $2.09 per gallon.

“While gas prices across Maryland have been fluctuating over the past several weeks, overall the state average has been heading in a downward direction,” said Averella. “However, it is unlikely prices will drop to last year’s levels by Thanksgiving Day.”

Prepare Before Getting on the Road

Before setting out on a Thanksgiving trip, travelers are encouraged to download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android at AAA.com/mobile.

All travelers can use the app to map a route, find lowest gas prices, and search for repair shops, while AAA members can access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, and call 1-800-AAA-HELP to request roadside assistance.

»Patch file photo