Gas prices won't halt travel over Thanksgiving, AAA says

Soaring gasoline prices won't keep a record number of Americans from traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday next week, according to a report from AAA, the largest U.S. motoring club.

A total of 38.7 million people will journey more than 50 miles from home over the long weekend, up 1.5 percent from last Thanksgiving, a survey of 2,200 adults conducted for AAA by the Travel Industry Association showed. Of those, 31.2 million, or 80 percent, will go by motor vehicle.

"Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for family gatherings and higher gas will not discourage Americans from connecting with their loved ones," AAA president Robert L. Darbelnet said in a statement today.

Gasoline at the pump went for $3.11 a gallon on Tuesday, averaged nationwide, according to a daily AAA report. The price was up about 88 cents a gallon from a year ago.

This will be the first November with U.S. gasoline prices above $3 a gallon, Darbelnet said.