Thanksgiving Travel Costs Surge Even If You Don’t Fly

As FAA-directed flight cancellations continue to disrupt air travel, many Americans are considering alternate ways to reach their holiday destinations. But new price checks reveal that taking a bus or train may not offer the savings travelers expect this Thanksgiving.

With demand shifting away from air travel, ground transportation providers have raised fares on popular routes. Intercity bus tickets are climbing due to limited schedules and high seasonal demand, while Amtrak routes are seeing elevated prices and fuller trains across major corridors. For many travelers, the cost difference between flying and taking ground transportation is narrowing — and in some cases, buses and trains may be just as expensive as last-minute airfare.

Add in longer travel times, potential weather delays and packed terminals and stations, and the overall Thanksgiving travel experience is shaping up to be costly and congested no matter how you choose to get there.

For holiday travelers hoping to save, early planning and flexible scheduling remain the best strategies as nationwide disruptions continue.