by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:55 AM ET, Thu November 5, 2026
A new study found that Americans are adjusting their holiday
travel plans as rising costs make getting to family and friends more expensive,
including taking to the roads to avoid rising airfare.
A new Hertz survey found that six in 10 travelers (60%)
planning Thanksgiving and December holiday trips are more likely to drive due
to rising costs. For Thanksgiving, 37% of respondents planning to travel said
they would drive instead of fly to save money.
Overall, 48% of Americans surveyed plan to travel for
Thanksgiving, while 44% expect to travel during the Christmas and New Year’s
holiday period.
The shift toward driving is also showing up in rental car
bookings, as Hertz reported Thanksgiving reservations are up 16% year over
year, while Christmas and New Year’s bookings have increased 7%.
Orlando ranks as the most popular Thanksgiving destination,
followed by Phoenix, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Denver. Small and standard SUVs are
the most-booked vehicle categories.
For the December holidays, 65% of travelers planning trips
between December 20 and January 4 said they are using paid time off, remote
work, or both to extend their stays.
Hertz expects its busiest Thanksgiving rental pickup dates
to be November 24 and 25, with December 23, 24 and 26 leading the year-end
holiday period.
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