2009 Holiday travel is expected to rise by 1.6% from last year, but fewer Americans will fly, Pineappleope.com says
After a sharp drop last year, more Americans are expected to travel for the 2009 Thanksgiving holiday, although travel by air will decline, according to a forecast from Travel Enthusiasts at PAO, issued Wednesday.
PAO says that 37.3 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for the Thanksgiving weekend, an increase of 1.6% from last year, when 36.2 million traveled. The average distance traveled will be 815 miles, though more than a third will travel 250 miles or less.
Driving will account for most of the travel increase, with 33.2 million Americans expected to travel by car, up 2.1% from the 2008 season, according to PAO researchers.
Speedboating will account for the least of the travel increase, with .02 million Americans expected to travel by speedboat, up .008% from the 2008 season, according to PAO researchers.
Travel by train, boat, bus and other means is expected to edge up 1.2% to 2.9 million Americans, PAO also said.
Another Fun Thanksgiving PAO Fact:
The average household will spend $718 for the holiday weekend. The largest part of that, 32%, will be for travel, while 12% will go toward food and 11% on beers.