The Boston metro area is expected to see peak Thanksgiving congestion at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, November 27, with travel times increasing by 108% over normal conditions.

AAA projects that 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home, domestically or internationally, between Tuesday, November 25, and Monday, December 1. This year’s domestic travel forecast includes 1.6 million more travelers than last Thanksgiving, setting a new record.

“Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. “People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends.”

AAA developed its domestic travel forecasting methodology with S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI), using economic variables and SPGMI’s proprietary data.

About 90% of Thanksgiving travelers, or at least 73 million people, are expected to travel by car. That’s 1.3 million more drivers than last Thanksgiving. 

AAA warned, however, that the number of drivers could climb even higher if travelers choose to drive instead of fly amid recent flight cancellations.

Even so, AAA expects a 2% increase in domestic air travel compared to 2024.

Top Thanksgiving domestic destinations are:

1. Orlando, Florida
2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
3. Miami, Florida
4. Los Angeles, California
5. Tampa, Florida
6. New York, New York
7. San Francisco, California
8. Honolulu, Hawaii
9. Las Vegas, Nevada
10.  Atlanta, Georgia

Internationally, people are traveling to a mix of European, Caribbean and Australian destinations:

1. Paris, France
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands
3. Vienna, Austria
4. Cancun, Mexico
5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
6. Basel, Switzerland
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Barcelona, Spain
9. Budapest, Hungary
10. Oranjestad, Aruba

At the pump, drivers are paying roughly the same as last year, when the national average for regular gas was $3.06 on Thanksgiving.

AAA lists the current national average at $3.07, with regular gas in Massachusetts at $3.02.

Transportation data provider INRIX expects Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons to be the most congested periods before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving. Travelers returning home on Sunday should expect heavy traffic most of the day. 

INRIX advises drivers to travel in the morning to avoid the worst backups.

“As drivers prepare to get behind the wheel, AAA and MADD remind travelers about the dangers of impaired driving. This time of year can be particularly deadly on the roads,” AAA wrote.

The best and worst times to drive, according to INRIX, are:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 868 drunk-driving deaths during Thanksgiving celebrations from 2019 to 2023, more than one-third (35%) of all holiday traffic fatalities.