Thanksgiving 2025 is shaping up to be one of the busiest travel periods in recent memory, and South Dakotans are joining the nationwide surge in holiday movement, according to new projections from AAA.
An estimated 273,702 South Dakotans are expected to travel 50 miles or more between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, marking a 1.8% increase over last year. The vast majority—90.2%—will be hitting the road, with 246,887 residents opting to drive to their destinations.
Nationwide, 81.8 million Americans are projected to travel for Thanksgiving, a 2% uptick from 2024. Of those, 73.3 million will travel by car, despite only a modest drop in gas prices. In South Dakota, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded sits at $2.83, just one cent lower than a year ago.
AAA South Dakota is urging motorists to prepare their vehicles before heading out. Last year, the organization responded to 700 roadside assistance calls during the Thanksgiving period, with the top issues being tows, dead batteries, and tire problems.
Air travel is also on the rise, with South Dakota seeing a 1.8% increase in flyers, mirroring the national trend. Meanwhile, travelers looking to save may benefit from a 15% drop in rental car prices and a 3% decrease in domestic hotel rates compared to last year.
Safety remains a top concern. Between 2019 and 2023, 868 people died in drunk driving crashes nationwide during the Thanksgiving holiday. AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are reminding travelers to plan ahead and avoid impaired driving by using rideshares, public transit, or designated drivers.
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