Cars.com Finds 84% of Travelers Will Drive This Thanksgiving Holiday, Steered by Flight Disruptions, Flexible Work Schedules and Lingering COVID-19 Concerns

Rhea-AI Summary

Cars.com conducted a national survey revealing that 84% of Americans traveling for Thanksgiving plan to drive, influenced by rising rental car prices and flight disruptions. The survey showed that 65% of remote or hybrid workers prefer road trips for increased flexibility. Additionally, 57% of Americans plan to travel during the holiday, with 58% intending to travel farther than last year. Notably, 39% of pet owners will bring their pets along, reflecting the convenience of personal transportation.

Positive

• 84% of travelers will drive this Thanksgiving, indicating strong consumer preference for personal vehicles.
• 57% of Americans are planning to travel, showing a robust recovery in travel trends post-pandemic.
• 65% of remote workers cite increased flexibility as a reason for choosing road trips over flights.

Negative

• Many travelers canceled flights due to rising rental car prices and flight disruptions, indicating travel market instability.

CHICAGO, Nov. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The era of remote work will allow many Americans to spend more time with family this Thanksgiving weekend. With increased flexibility, 65% of remote or hybrid workers will drive over flying to their destinations this holiday and are staying longer than usual, according to a national survey by Cars.com^TM (NYSE: CARS), a leading car shopping marketplace. Overall, 57% of Americans plan to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday, with 84% choosing to drive. In fact, of those planning to drive, 1 in 4 say they originally booked a flight but canceled due to factors beyond their control, such as rising rental car prices and flight disruptions.¹

"With more companies turning to permanent remote or hybrid schedules for American workers coupled with ongoing pandemic concerns, holiday travel decisions are shifting and providing a more compelling reason to drive personal vehicles over other forms of transportation," said Mike Hanley, Cars.com senior editor. "For many, the lower costs, increased flexibility and added convenience are enough to tip the scale in favor of road trips this holiday season."

Additional insights revealed by Cars.com's survey on Thanksgiving travel include:

• More flexibility, more distance traveled. With more time to travel and a willingness to venture farther from home, more than half of respondents (58%) plan to travel farther this year for Thanksgiving than they did last year. The most popular region for travel is the South (36%).
  
  
• Thanksgiving rush hour peaks the weekend before. With the ability to work away from the office now an option for many Americans, nearly half of respondents (48%) plan to leave the weekend prior to Thanksgiving (Friday through Sunday).
  
  
• Precious cargo also plays a role for drivers. For drivers with children, 65% say they plan to road-trip due to increased convenience that personal transportation provides, such as with car seats. Nearly 80% of respondents are pet owners and 39% of them will bring their pets along. Another 18% of pet owners said they typically fly but are now driving in order to bring along their animal companions.

To learn more about the recent Thanksgiving travel survey, great deals and other car-buying tips and tricks, please visit Cars.com/news.

¹Cars.com's survey results Nov. 1, 2021; 1,010 responses

About Cars.com

CARS is a leading digital marketplace and solutions provider for the automotive industry that connects car shoppers with sellers. Launched in 1998 with the flagship marketplace site Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the Company empowers shoppers with the data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. In a rapidly changing market, CARS enables dealerships and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy shoppers, increase inventory turn and gain market share.

In addition to Cars.com, CARS brands include Dealer Inspire, a technology provider building solutions that future-proof dealerships with more efficient operations and connected digital experiences; FUEL, which gives dealers and OEMs the opportunity to harness the untapped power of digital video by leveraging Cars.com's pure audience of in-market car shoppers, and DealerRater, a leading car dealer review and reputation management platform.

The full suite of CARS brands include Cars.com™, Dealer Inspire®, FUEL™, DealerRater®, Auto.com™, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com®. For more information, visit www.Cars.com.

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SOURCE Cars.com Inc.

FAQ

What percentage of travelers will drive this Thanksgiving?

84% of travelers plan to drive during the Thanksgiving holiday.

What factors are influencing Americans to drive instead of fly for Thanksgiving?

Rising rental car prices and flight disruptions are influencing the choice to drive.

How many Americans plan to travel during Thanksgiving 2021?

57% of Americans plan to travel during Thanksgiving 2021.

What trends were revealed about pet owners during Thanksgiving travel?

39% of pet owners plan to bring their pets along on road trips this Thanksgiving.

How has remote work impacted Thanksgiving travel plans?

The rise of remote work has led 65% of workers to choose road trips for more flexibility.