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Traveling this Thanksgiving? So are 48 million other Americans

Most travelers are driving over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
(Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)
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AAA estimates that 1 million more Americans will take a trip over the Thanksgiving holiday this year compared with the same time period in 2015. About 48.7 million people will be on the move between the Wednesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

More than 89% will take a road trip 50 miles or more from home, with gas at bargain prices. The average price for a gallon of regular gas in California costs $2.74 and $2.14 in the U.S. as of Tuesday, according to GasBuddy.

About 3.69 million people will fly and 1.44 million will take a train, cruise or some other mode of transportation.

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Where’s everyone going? Las Vegas, San Francisco and San Diego are the top three destinations for AAA travelers, the travel organization announced Tuesday.

AAA also predicts a 21% rise in the cost of airfares this year but a 13% drop in car rental prices. Hotel prices are flat, with Americans spending about $155 a night at a luxury hotel and $123 a night at a more basic hotel.

The organization makes its holiday forecasts with London-based IHS Markit. AAA has been issuing holiday forecasts for more than 20 years.

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