Projections Show Rise in Thanksgiving Travel

(MissouriNet) Long-range weather forecasts predict favorable conditions for Thanksgiving next week, while the travel forecast indicates it’ll be a very busy holiday on Missouri’s roads. Brian Ortner is a spokesman for Triple-A. He says their estimates are showing a significant boost in Thanksgiving travelers for our region of the Midwest.

In the months since the COVID-19 pandemic ended, there has been a steady increase in travel numbers for Missouri and across the country, as Ortner says many people are taking a “YOLO” attitude.

“Back in late August, there was an initial survey done of our AAA members, asking them why they’re traveling now and why they’re traveling in more numbers, and a lot of them said because it’s the ‘You Only Live Once’ belief, and people want to get out and spend time with friends and family.”

Nationwide, Triple-A projects 55-point-four million people will be traveling at least 50 miles from home over the four-day Thanksgiving holiday.