Hitting the road: More drivers expected to be out next week

By: Donathan Prater Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: November 19, 2009

Not even reservations about the economy will keep Americans from making travel plans this Thanksgiving season, according to a AAA Alabama release.
AAA Alabama projects a 2.1 percent increase in the number of automobile travelers this Thanksgiving season from 32.5 to 33.2 million. However, the number of those who travel by air this holiday is expected to drop slightly from 2.5 million in 2008 to 2.3 million.
When Alabama’s motorists do hit the road they can expect to pay about $2.52 for a gallon of fuel in comparison to the $2.63 national average, according to AAA Alabama Public Relations and Marketing Manager Clay Ingram.
Ingram said many
families are going through with travel plans regardless of fuel prices.
“Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas have emotional ties to them in where families may only get to see members of their extended family once that year, so even paying a little more for fuel isn’t going to keep most people from traveling,” Ingram said.
When they do hit the road this Thanksgiving holiday, travelers are projected to spend an average of about $718 per household, which Ingram said travelers may be able to stretch a bit further with lower lodging and rental car costs.
“The fact that more families will be traveling and spending money over the Thanksgiving holiday might also be an indicator that people are feeling a little better about the economy,” Ingram said.