AAA South Dakota is projecting that more than 173,000 South Dakotans will travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, an increase of more than 12% over last year – but falling about 7% shy of the number of pre-pandemic Thanksgiving travelers in 2019.
As usual, the great majority of those travelers will be driving to their holiday destinations. AAA South Dakota is projecting that more than 159,000 people (92% of travelers) will be hitting the road.
The dramatic bounce back in travel compared to last year is in keeping with the findings of a new AAA poll of South Dakota residents. Only 6% feel traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday poses a ‘significant’ risk due to COVID. This in contrast to a similar poll last year where 36% felt holiday travel posed ‘significant’ risk due to COVID.
“Both the Thanksgiving travel projections and the results of AAA’s statewide poll tell the same story. Thanksgiving travelers see COVID in the rear view mirror and they are looking forward to returning to the pre-pandemic tradition of gathering with family and friends,” said Shawn Steward, spokesperson for AAA South Dakota. “Travelers should expect – and plan for – both the roadways and airports to be as busy as ever.”
AAA projects that the number of South Dakotans driving to their destinations (159,000) will be up almost 8% over last year, but falling just 5% short of Thanksgiving weekend auto travel in 2019.
Air Travel Jumps Nearly 80%
AAA is projecting that 5.1% of South Dakotans traveling this Thanksgiving – more than 8,800 – will take to the skies, a jump of almost 80% over last year.
Bus, Train, other modes of transportation also up
AAA is projecting that about 5,300 South Dakotans will travel by bus, train or some other mode of transportation over the holiday weekend, a jump of 278% over last year when travel in a group setting was by far as low as it has been since AAA has been keeping record. But the 2021 numbers are still 18% below 2019.
AAA defines the Thanksgiving holiday as the five-day period from Wednesday, Nov. 24 – Sunday, Nov. 28.
NUMBER OF TRAVELERS
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Total Population
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2021 Travelers
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Percent of population traveling
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Percent change vs. 2020
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South Dakota TOTAL
Auto, Air & Other
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884,659*
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173,393
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19.6%
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+12.2%
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South Dakota Auto
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91.8% of people travel by car
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159,239
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18.0%
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+7.9%
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South Dakota Air
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5.1% of people travel by air
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8,846
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1.0%
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+79.4%
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National TOTAL
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329.4 million*
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53.4 million
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16.2%
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+13.5%
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National Auto
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90.3% of people travel by car
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48.3 million
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14.6%
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+8.4%
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National Air
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7.8% of people travel by air
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4.2 million
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1.3%
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+80.2%
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*U.S. Census Bureau/IHS Global Insight (v2019)
AAA’s National Travel Projections
The return of South Dakota travelers to near pre-pandemic Thanksgiving travel mirrors national trends.
AAA predicts that 53.4 million people will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, up 13.5% from 2020, with 90% (48.3 million) taking to the roads. While that is the biggest year-over-year bounce in Thanksgiving travel since 2005, nationwide, the overall travel volume still lags 2019 by about 5%.
Gas Prices
The national gas price average, as of Nov. 17, is $3.41/gallon, an increase of $1.28/gallon over last year and the highest gas prices have been at this time of year since 2013. The South Dakota average is currently about $3.31, up from $2.08 one year ago. Historically, higher gas prices have not kept travelers home. Instead, they adjust their budgets to spend less on other expenses such as meals or lodging. But, AAA’s recent poll of South Dakota residents found that 36% of those not driving a significant distance for the holiday, said that gas prices did play a role in that decision.
No Holiday for AAA – Slow Down/Move Over
AAA is expecting to respond to approximately 500 emergency roadside assistance calls over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend – just in South Dakota. AAA reminds motorists to always Slow Down and Move Over for AAA tow truck drivers, other emergency first responders and the motorists they are assisting on the side of the road.
Schedule Vehicle Checkup to Minimize Risk of a Breakdown
Before any long trip, AAA suggests getting an inspection of your vehicle to check key components like the battery, fuel system, tires, brakes and fluid levels. However, if your vehicle has been sitting idle these systems are particularly vulnerable to deteriorating especially without proper care or maintenance.
Whether you are traveling a distance or staying local, minimize the risk of spending precious time over your Thanksgiving holiday stranded along the roadside by making sure your vehicle is road-ready.
Motorists can always find a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility nearby.
“In addition to responding to members with flat tires, dead batteries and mechanical issues, AAA will respond to hundreds of motorists in South Dakota who have locked themselves out of their vehicles,” AAA South Dakota’s Steward added. “Holiday travel provides ample opportunity for distraction. AAA is urging everyone to slow down and pay attention so you can get where you are going safely and without incident.”
Safe Travels
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released its recommendations for holiday gatherings and related travel, saying that the best way to minimize COVID-19 risk is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible. However, everyone’s situation is unique and therefore, AAA urges anyone considering gathering or traveling for Thanksgiving to consult CDC guidance before finalizing holiday plans.
Navigating the New Travel Landscape
This year’s national forecast marks the highest single-year increase in Thanksgiving travelers since 2005, bringing travel volumes close to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Despite gas costing over a dollar more per gallon than this time last year, 90% of people plan to travel by car as their preferred mode of travel.
Although the car is still the most popular choice for travelers, a greater share will opt to travel by air and other modes such as bus, train or cruise this year. Whether you plan to do so by car or plane, it’s important to know how to navigate the new travel landscape to avoid unnecessary stress and challenges on the way to your Thanksgiving destination.
Be Proactive. Book flights, car rentals, accommodations and other activities as early as possible. Prices are not going down and are still somewhat impacted by the limited capacity of flights and staffing challenges faced by many industries. Consider working with a travel advisor who can make any last-minute changes to travel plans, explore travel insurance options and help plan a trip that meets your needs and comfort level this holiday season.
Be Patient. The roads and airports will be busy so plan ahead.
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Arrive at the airport early so you’ll have plenty of time to get through longer TSA lines and other travel checkpoints. For domestic travel, AAA suggests 2 hours ahead of departure time and 3 hours for international.
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Consider booking a flight during non-peak travel periods to cut down on wait times.
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Hit the road when there’s less traffic and allow for extra time when traveling to your destination.
Be Protected—Both You and Your Trip. If you plan to travel during the holidays, it’s essential to do so safely and understand how to protect yourself, your loved ones and your investment while traveling. Also, as travel restrictions remain in flux, it’s essential to know requirements and recommendations based on your vaccination status, where you’re traveling from and where you’re traveling to. AAA’s COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Map and TripTik.AAA.com are also helpful resources travelers may use for free to understand closures, recommendations and requirements when traveling in the U.S.
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Travel insurance—AAA highly recommends travel insurance to cover unexpected delays or trip interruptions. It is best to consult the expertise of a travel advisor who can guide you on the coverage options available for your specific trip, including if your destination requires visitors to carry travel insurance.
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Clean accommodations—when booking a place to stay, look for accommodations that prioritize cleanliness and have implemented additional housekeeping standards since the start of the pandemic. Earlier this year, as part of its Diamond designation, AAA enhanced its housekeeping evaluation to include objective, scientific validation of the cleanliness of common surfaces throughout hotels. Hotels that meet these new standards are now recognized as Inspected Clean and a current listing can be found here.
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Safe travel = smart travel—everything from airports to restaurants to attractions will be busier this Thanksgiving, which means more people congregating. Masks are still required for everyone on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. The CDC also recommends everyone wear a mask indoors in public if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
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Domestic and international travel guidelines—as of November 8, the U.S. opened its borders to fully vaccinated international travelers. The CDC has updated its guidance to reflect these changes. When traveling within the U.S., fully vaccinated travelers do not need a negative viral test or to self-quarantine. For international travel, refer to the CDC for specific guidelines.
Travelers Headed to Big Cities and Beaches This Thanksgiving
AAA Travel continues to see a strong recovery that began over the summer and will last into the holiday season. AAA booking data reveals that big cities and tropical destinations are topping travelers’ list this Thanksgiving both domestically and abroad:
2021 Top Thanksgiving Destinations
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U.S Destinations
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International Destinations
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Orlando, FL
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Cancun, Mexico
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Anaheim, CA
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Montego Bay, Jamaica
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Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
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Aruba
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Phoenix, AZ
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Los Cabos, Mexico
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Honolulu, HI
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Nassau, Bahamas
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Kahului, Maui, HI
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St. Lucia, West Indies
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Atlanta, GA
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Dublin, Ireland
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Tampa, FL
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(tie) Tel Aviv, Israel and Calgary, Canada
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Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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Paris, France
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Roads Will Be Bustling
INRIX, in collaboration with AAA, predicts drivers will experience the worst congestion heading into the holiday weekend as commuters leave work early and mix with holiday travelers. Major metro areas across the U.S. could see more than double the delays versus typical drive times.
Daily Worst and Best Times to Travel
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Day
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Worst Time
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Best Time
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Wednesday
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12:00 – 8:00PM
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After 9:00PM
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Thursday
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12:00 – 3:00PM
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Before 11:00AM
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Friday
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1:00 – 4:00PM
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Before 11:00AM
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Saturday
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2:00 – 7:00PM
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Before 12:00PM
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Sunday
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1:00 – 7:00PM
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Before 12:00PM
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Source: INRIX
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AAA Poll of South Dakota Drivers
A Thanksgiving Holiday Travel survey of 1,082 South Dakota drivers was conducted by Public Policy Polling on behalf of AAA, November 4-5, 2021. The margin of error is ±3%.
Forecast Methodology:
In cooperation with AAA, IHS Markit—a world leader in critical information, analytics and expertise—developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from IHS Markit’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including prices of gasoline, airline travel and hotel stays.
Historical travel volume estimates come from DK SHIFFLET’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. DK SHIFFLET contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends and forecast U.S. travel behavior—all after the trips have been taken.
The travel forecast is reported in-person trips. In particular, AAA and IHS Markit forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation.
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