A number of years ago, the Thanksgiving dinner venue switched to our house. Previously, like many others, we would hit the road with kids in tow, visiting both sides of our family. Now, thanks to the previous generation wanting to pass the setup-cooking-cleanup mantle to the next generation, combined with the fact that my wife Amy puts together a world-class Thanksgiving feast, we won't be part of the estimated 47 million Thanksgiving holiday travelers. That's the 7th consecutive year of growth, resulting in the most travelers since 2007.

From AAA:

In Illinois, there will be 2.5 million travelers, a .7 percent increase from 2014, with 2.2 million traveling by auto (up .8 percent from 2014) and about 185,000 traveling by air (a decline of .6 percent from 2014). In Indiana, there will be 1.1 million travelers this year, a 1.1 percent increase from 2014, with 941,000 traveling by auto (a 1.3 percent increase) and 79,000 traveling by air (a .1 percent decrease).

“This Thanksgiving, more Americans will carve out time to visit friends and family since 2007,” said Beth Mosher, director of public affairs for AAA Chicago. “While many people remain cautious about the economy and their finances, many thankful Americans continue to put a premium on traveling to spend the holiday with loved ones.”

As it stacks up right now, we'll probably be paying the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since back in 2008. Lower gas prices translate into more disposable income, perhaps allowing some folks who've been staying close to home the financial freedom to travel this year.

More from AAA:

Air travel is expected to increase by 0.1 percent, with 3.6 million Americans flying to their holiday destinations. Travel by other modes of transportation, including cruises, trains and buses, will decrease 1.4 percent this Thanksgiving, to 1.4 million travelers. According to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index, airfares are projected to decrease 10 percent this Thanksgiving, landing at an average of $169 roundtrip across the top 40 domestic flight routes. Rates for AAA Three Diamond Rated lodgings are expected to remain relatively flat, with travelers spending an average of $155 per night. The average rate for a AAA Two Diamond Rated hotel has risen four percent with an average nightly cost of $118. Daily car rental rates will average $60, eight percent higher than last Thanksgiving.

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