AAA estimates that more than 480,000 Oklahomans will be among the 55.4 million Americans who will travel 50 miles or more away from home over the long 2023 Thanksgiving holiday weekend, an increase of 1.1% compared to the 2022 Oklahoma Thanksgiving travel volume.
2023 Projected Thanksgiving Holiday Travelers – Oklahoma
| NUMBER OF TRAVELERS | Total Population | 2023 Travelers | Percent of population traveling | Percent change vs. 2022 |
| Oklahoma TOTAL Auto, Air & Other | 4,019,800* | 482,376 | 12.0% | +1.1% |
| Oklahoma Auto | 91.6% of people travel by car | 442,178 | 11.0% | +0.8% |
| Oklahoma Air | 6.6% of people travel by air | 32,158 | 0.8% | +3.7% |
| Oklahoma Other (train, bus, cruise, etc.) | 2.4% of people travel by other modes | 12,059 | 0.3% | +6.5% |
| National TOTAL | 55.4 million* | 55.4 million | 16.5% | +2.3% |
| National Auto | 88.7% of people travel by car | 49.1 million | 14.6% | +1.7% |
| National Air | 8.5% of people travel by air | 4.7 million | 1.4% | +6.6% |
| National Other (train, bus, cruise, etc.) | 2.8% of people travel by other modes | 1.55 million | 0.5% | +10.9% |
*U.S. Census Bureau (v2022)/IHS Markit
Road Travel and Gas Prices
Consistent with most travel holidays, 9 in 10 travelers – or about 442,000 Oklahomans – will be driving to their Thanksgiving holiday destinations. The number of road travelers is slightly more than last year. In addition, those drivers will feel less pain at the pumps during their road trip fill-ups.
“The good news is gas prices are lower than last year in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, giving Americans a little extra money to spend on travel and motivating millions to take road trips,” says Rylie Fletcher, spokesperson for AAA Oklahoma. “For Oklahomans, the news is even better at more than 40 cents less than the national average.”
AAA has a variety of resources to help motorists save on fuel:
- Fuel Price Finder (http://www.AAA.com/fuelfinder) locates the lowest fuel price in your area.
- AAA Gas Cost Calculator (http://gasprices.aaa.com/aaa-gas-cost-calculator/) helps budget travel expenses.
- TripTik Mobile (http://www.aaa.com/mobile) plots fuel prices along your travel route.
“Drivers this Thanksgiving can expect cheaper gas prices,” adds Fletcher. “Ten states now have sub $3 a gallon averages, and more will join soon. So savvy drivers will find savings on their way to a turkey dinner this year.”
Best/Worst Times to Drive: INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Wednesday, November 22, to be the busiest day on the roads during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, with average travel times as high as 80% over normal in some metro areas. INRIX recommends leaving in the morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid the heaviest holiday congestion. Highways will also be crowded the Sunday after Thanksgiving as many travelers return home.
Air Travel Increases Nearly 4%
Flights and airports will be packed this holiday season. AAA is projecting about 32,000 Oklahoma residents will takes to the skies over the Thanksgiving travel period, representing a 3.7% jump compared to 2022. Nationwide, 4.7 million Americans will travel by air for Thanksgiving.
Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving are the busiest air travel days ahead of the holiday and the most expensive. AAA data shows Monday is also a popular day to fly back after Thanksgiving.
“If you’re flying this Thanksgiving, airport parking spaces fill up fast, so reserve a spot ahead of time and arrive early,” Fletcher suggests. “Anticipate longer than usual TSA lines, and leave extra time to navigate through the airport. If possible, avoid checking a bag to allow for more flexibility if your flights are delayed or you need to reschedule.”
Bus, Train, Other Modes of Transportation See Largest Increase – Up from 2022
Other modes of transportation will see the biggest jump for this year’s Thanksgiving travel period. AAA is projecting that about 12,000 Oklahomans will travel by cruise, bus, train or some other mode of transportation over the holiday period, an increase of 6.5% over last year.
“These other modes of transportation, which took a huge hit during the pandemic, have rebounded nicely,” Fletcher says. “The cruise industry, in particular, has made a remarkable comeback. Thanksgiving cruises are mostly sold out, with many travelers looking to spend the holiday at sea.”
Busy Holiday for AAA Roadside Service – Make Sure Your Vehicle is Road-Ready
AAA Oklahoma estimates that the auto club will rescue over 4,000 stranded motorists from Wednesday-Sunday, with nearly half of calls needing a tow.
“Get a pre-trip check now to avoid a headache while traveling,” advises Fletcher.
With a colder weather forecast for Thanksgiving week, AAA urges drivers, especially those whose batteries may be a few years old, to get them checked now rather than risk becoming stranded roadside. Tires lose air pressure in cold weather, so it is also important to regularly check tires and add air as needed.
“We have been fortunate with a stretch of mostly mild weather, but cold temperatures are in the forecast this week, and the coldest months of winter are ahead,” says Fletcher. “AAA Emergency Roadside Service crews are getting ready, and we encourage drivers to be prepared as well.”
AAA Tips for Winter Vehicle Maintenance
- Battery: Clean any corrosion from battery posts and cable connections and wash all surfaces with battery terminal cleaner or a solution of baking soda and water. Even at 32 degrees, a battery is 35% weaker. At zero degrees, a car’s battery loses about 60% of its strength, yet the engine needs about twice as much power to start. If your battery is three years or older, have it checked by a professional to ensure it is strong enough to face cold weather. AAA members can request a visit from a AAA Mobile Battery Service technician who will test their battery and replace it on-site, if necessary.
- Tires: Examine tires for tread depth, uneven wearing and cupping. Check tire pressures once a month when tires are cold, before driving any distance.
- Engine: Have any engine drivability problems corrected at a good repair shop. Symptoms like hard starts, rough idling, stalling or diminished power could signal a problem that can be exacerbated by cold weather. Engine hoses and belts should be inspected for wear or cracking.
- Fluids: Important system fluids such as engine coolant/anti-freeze, transmission and brake fluids should be checked and changed at recommended intervals.
- Exhaust: Have your mechanic check the exhaust system for leaks and look for any holes in the trunk and floorboards.
- Brakes: Inspect brakes as recommended in your owner’s manual, or sooner if you notice pulsations, pulling, noises while braking or longer stopping distance. Correct minor brake problems promptly.
- Wipers: Replace worn windshield-wiper blades. Purchase one-piece beam-type or rubber-clad “winter” blades to fight snow and ice build-up. Use cold-weather windshield washer solvent and carry an ice scraper.
- Lights: Inspect all lights and bulbs and replace burned out bulbs. Clean road grime or clouding from all lenses.
Pack a Vehicle Emergency Kit
Motorists are advised to prepare a winter emergency kit now and stow it in the cargo area of their vehicle to have it immediately available should the need arise. AAA warns that more than 40% of motorists do not carry an emergency kit in their vehicle.
An emergency kit should include:
- Fully charged mobile phone pre-programmed with rescue apps and important phone numbers including family and emergency services as well as a car charger
- Bottled water
- First-aid kit
- Non-perishable snacks for both human and pet passengers
- Bag of abrasive material (sand, salt, cat litter) or traction mats
- Snow shovel
- Blankets
- Extra warm clothing (coat, gloves, hats, scarves)
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Window washer solvent
- Ice scraper with brush
- Cloth or roll of paper towels
- Jumper cables
- Waring devices (flares or triangles)
- Basic toolkit (screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrench)
Many of the winter emergency items listed above – plus pre-assembled multi-item kits – are available, at a discount, to AAA members in the online store at AAA.com. Emergency kits may also be available at local AAA retail locations.
Ready for Roadside Assistance
Whether hitting the road for the holidays or simply headed to the store, AAA reminds members to make sure their memberships are up to date, have their card or number handy, and to add the AAA mobile app or program the AAA Roadside Assistance number into their mobile phones to easily request assistance if needed.
