AAA Projects More Than 1.65 Million Wisconsinites Will Travel 50 Miles or More for the Thanksgiving Holiday

Thursday, November 20th, 2025 -- 8:01 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) AAA is projecting that more than 1.65 million Wisconsinites will travel 50 miles or more for the Thanksgiving holiday.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, the Auto Club projects that concerns over air travel delays or cancellations will likely push more people to the highways. Though they project an across-the-board increase in all forms of travel from November 25th to December 1st:

• Total Travelers: 1,650,188 (+2%)
• By Car: 1,459,068 (+1.7% over last year and 88% of all travelers for 2025)
• By Air: 140,550 (+3.6%)
• By Other Modes (bus, train, cruise): 50,680 (+8.5%)

“Wisconsinites are embracing the Thanksgiving spirit with record-breaking travel plans this year,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group, in a press release.

“Whether it’s driving across the state or flying across the country, people are making time to connect with loved ones. Even with concerns about flight cancellations, travelers are showing flexibility and resilience and relying most on driving.”

Drivers can expect similar gas prices to hold steady from the 2024 Thanksgiving season. Last year’s prices were around $3.06 per gallon. Wausau’s average price was $2.78 as of Tuesday morning.

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