Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
AAA’s Mid-Atlantic division is estimating 482,000 Philadelphia-area residents will be hitting the road and traveling more than 50 miles for Thanksgiving.
The close to half-a-million people expected to hit the roads and journey 50 miles or more away from their homes are likely to enjoy low gas prices.
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AAA forecasts this year to mark the seventh consecutive year of growth for Thanksgiving and the most travelers since 2007. The data for the Thanksgiving travel period covers Wednesday through Sunday.
“This Thanksgiving, more Americans will carve out time to visit friends and family since 2007,” Jana L. Tidwell, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said. “While many people remain cautious about the economy and their finances, many thankful Americans continue to put a premium on traveling to spend the holiday with loved ones.”
With gas prices in the Philadelphia area averaging roughly $2.30 per gallon, drivers will pay the lowest price per gallon since Thanksgiving 2008.
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According to AAA data, 46.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Tidwell noted the busiest travel days are Wednesday and Sunday.
2015 Projected Thanksgiving Holiday Travelers
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Philadelphia (5-county) Area
| NUMBER OF TRAVELERS | Total Population | 2015 Travelers | Percent of population traveling | Percent change vs. 2014 |
| Philadelphia
(5-county) TOTAL <auto, air & other> |
4,049,583* | 542,644 | 13.4% | 1.4% |
Philadelphia
Advertisements(5-county) Auto |
88.9% of people travel by car
|
481,900 | 11.9% | 1.5% |
| Philadelphia
(5-county) Air |
8.5% of people travel by air
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|
44,545 | 1.1% | 0.7% |
| Pennsylvania
Auto, Air & Other |
12,787,209* | 1,418,075 | 13.4% | 1.4% |
| Pennsylvania
Auto Advertisements
|
88.9% of people travel by car | 1,261,174 | 11.9% | 1.5% |
| Pennsylvania
Air Advertisements
|
8.5% of people travel by air | 120,077 | 1.1% | 0.7% |
| National TOTAL
|
321.9 million* | 46.9 million | 14.5% | 0.6% |
National Auto
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|
89.3% of people travel by car
|
41.9 million | 13.0% | 0.7% |
National Air
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|
7.7% of people travel by air
|
3.6 million | 1.1% | 0.1% |
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*U.S. Census Bureau/IHS Global Insight
