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AAA Forecasts Travel Drop For Thanksgiving Holiday

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – It looks like fewer Americans will be hitting the road over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

This year an estimated 43.4 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a decrease of 1.5 percent from the 44 million people who traveled last year, according to the American Automobile Association.

This decrease falls just shy of last Thanksgiving's four-year peak since the recession-driven declines in 2008-2009 when Thanksgiving travel fell by 25 percent.

The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 27 to Monday, Dec. 2.

The AAA forecast calls for 90 percent of travelers, or 38.9 million, to travel by ground, a decrease of 1.6 percent. Taking an even bigger hit is the air travel. Holiday air travel is expected to be down 3.7 percent this year, 3.14 million travelers, compared to 3.26 million in 2012

Average distance traveled to increase to 601 miles from 588 miles.

Median spending expected to drop nearly 7 percent to $465, compared to $498 last year.

The Thanksgiving holiday is a less expensive holiday for travelers compared to other holidays. This year Labor Day spending was expected to be $804, Independence Day $749 and Memorial Day $659.

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