(File Photo of the AAA East Central Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) During the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday, November 25th to Monday, December 1st, AAA projects that 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home. The domestic travel forecast in 2025 includes another 1.6 million travelers compared to Thanksgiving in 2024, which set a new overall record. Compared to other holidays like the Fourth of July and Memorial Day, Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel. According to a release from AAA East Central, here is some more information and statistics that relate to Thanksgiving travel this year:

Mid-Atlantic Region Thanksgiving Forecast (Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1.)
*Region includes New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania

 

Method of Travel	Total Travelers	Increase from 2024
Automobile	8.9 million	2.2%
Air Travel	865,000	2.7%
Other (bus, train, ship, etc.)	197,000	4.6%
Region Total	10 million	2.3%

 

Thanksgiving Travelers by Mode of Transportation

By Car: AAA projects at least 73 million people will travel by car, that’s nearly 90 percent of Thanksgiving travelers. That figure could increase depending on flight cancellations and travelers opting for alternate modes of transportation. This year, AAA projects an additional 1.3 million travelers on the road compared to last Thanksgiving but given recent flight reductions that number could be higher.

For travelers who are renting cars, AAA car rental partner Hertz says Wednesday is expected to be the busiest pick-up day. The top 5 markets with the highest demand are Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami, and Newark. According to AAA booking data, domestic car rentals are 15% cheaper this Thanksgiving compared to last year.

At the pump, drivers are paying about the same as last year, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.06 on Thanksgiving Day. Filling the tank is a good idea the night before a road trip since it’s one less thing to do on travel day. AAA also recommends checking your battery and tire pressure. Last Thanksgiving holiday period, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires, and empty fuel tanks.

As drivers prepare to get behind the wheel, AAA and MADD remind travelers about the dangers of impaired driving. This time of year can be particularly deadly on the roads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 2019 to 2023, the death toll in drunk-driving crashes during Thanksgiving festivities was 868, representing more than one-third (35%) of all fatalities in traffic crashes during that holiday period. Have a plan in place before Thanksgiving, and use a rideshare, designate a sober driver, or take public transit to ensure everyone’s safety.

By Air: According to AAA, 6 million U.S. travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday period, a 2% increase compared to 2024. Some of those travelers may switch their mode of transportation as the holiday approaches, if flight disruptions remain a concern. The number of Thanksgiving air travelers over the past several years – except for 2020 – has been between 5 and 6 million.

According to AAA data, which is based on what travelers paid when they booked their Thanksgiving trips, a roundtrip domestic flight is averaging $700 which is similar to last year. It’s cheaper to fly on Thanksgiving Day itself, but the flight home is what drives up the ticket price since Sunday and Monday are the busiest return days. Some travelers shorten or extend their Thanksgiving trips to avoid flying on peak days.

By Other Modes: Travel by other modes is expected to increase by 8.5% to nearly 2.5 million people. Those travelers are taking trips by bus, train, and cruise. Buses and trains could see an uptick in last-minute bookings this year.

Cruising is building on its record post-pandemic growth. This year alone, AAA is projecting 20.7 million American cruise passengers. That number is even higher for 2026 with AAA forecasting 21.7 million U.S. travelers taking ocean cruises. Cruise vacations are appealing during Thanksgiving, especially to the Caribbean, because the weather is mild, the trip is paid for in advance, families can bring grandparents and kids, and everyone is entertained.

 

AAA’s Thanksgiving Top Destinations

The top holiday destinations listed below are based on AAA booking data for the Thanksgiving travel period. Florida is the most popular domestic destination, thanks to the area’s theme parks and cruise ports. The international list is a mix of Europe, the Caribbean, and Australia for its warm spring weather this time of year.

DOMESTIC	INTERNATIONAL
ORLANDO, FL	PARIS, FRANCE
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL	AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
MIAMI, FL	VIENNA, AUSTRIA
ANAHEIM/LOS ANGELES, CA	CANCUN, MEXICO
TAMPA, FL	PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
NEW YORK, NY	BASEL, SWITZERLAND
SAN FRANCISCO, CA	SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
HONOLULU, HI	BARCELONA, SPAIN
LAS VEGAS, NV	BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
ATLANTA, GA	ORANJESTAD, ARUBA

 

Best/Worst Times to Drive and Peak Congestion by Metro

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to be the most congested periods before Thanksgiving Day. Travelers returning home on Sunday should expect heavy traffic most of the day. Drivers should hit the road in the morning to avoid the worst backups, but keep in mind construction, crashes, or severe weather could impact travel times. Slow Down, Move Over for emergency responders and other stopped vehicles on the side of the road to ensure everyone’s safety.

 

Best and Worst Times to Drive
Date	Worst Travel Time	Best Travel Time
Tuesday, Nov 25	12:00 PM – 9:00 PM	Before 12:00 PM
Wednesday, Nov 26	11:00 AM – 8:00 PM	Before 11:00 AM
Thursday, Nov 27	Minimal Traffic Impact Expected
Friday, Nov 28	1:00 PM – 7:00 PM	Before 11:00 AM
Saturday, Nov 29	1:00 PM – 8:00 PM	Before 10:00 AM
Sunday, Nov 30	11:00 AM – 8:00 PM	Before 11:00 AM
Monday, Dec 1	12:00 PM – 8:00 PM	After 8:00 PM

SOURCE: INRIX

Holiday Travel Forecast Methodology

In cooperation with AAA, S&P Global Market Intelligence (SPGMI) developed a unique methodology to forecast actual domestic travel volumes. The economic variables used to forecast travel for the current holiday are leveraged from SPGMI’s proprietary databases. These data include macroeconomic drivers such as employment, output, household net worth, asset prices including stock indices, interest rates, housing market indicators, and variables related to travel and tourism, including gasoline prices, airline travel, and hotel stays. AAA and SPGMI have quantified holiday travel volumes going back to 2000.

Historical travel volume estimates come from MMGY’s TRAVEL PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM. The PERFORMANCE/MonitorSM is a comprehensive study measuring the travel behavior of U.S. residents. MMGY contacts over 50,000 U.S. households each month to obtain detailed travel data, resulting in the unique ability to estimate visitor volume and spending, identify trends, and forecast U.S. travel behavior, all after the trips have been taken.

The travel forecast is reported in person-trips. AAA and SPGMI forecast the total U.S. holiday travel volume and expected mode of transportation. The travel forecast presented in this report was prepared the week of October 20, 2025.

Because AAA holiday forecasts focus on domestic leisure travel only, comparisons to TSA passenger screening numbers should not be made. TSA data includes all passengers traveling on both domestic and international routes, whether traveling for work or leisure. Additionally, TSA screens passengers each time they enter secured areas of the airport, therefore each one-way trip is counted as a passenger tally. AAA focuses on person-trips, which include the full round-trip travel itinerary. As a result, direct comparisons of AAA forecast volumes and daily TSA screenings represent different factors.

INRIX Methodology

INRIX blends statistically grounded models with real-world road behavior to forecast travel conditions on the most heavily traveled routes across the U.S. during peak holiday periods. INRIX’s holiday traffic forecast combines pre-selected high-impact travel routes, rich multi-source traffic data, and a statistically robust linear regression model to generate detailed, time-specific travel delay predictions. INRIX’s data sources include a wide array of vehicle-based and infrastructure-based inputs. These include connected vehicle GPS data, mobile apps and navigation services, roadside sensors and cameras, and commercial fleet telematics. With expansive coverage, high temporal resolution, and historical context, this forecasting process provides essential insights for travelers, media, and agencies alike.

Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Period

The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as the seven-day period from Tuesday, November 25 to Monday, December 1, 2025. This Thanksgiving travel window was instituted starting in 2024. Historical results were calculated dating back to 2019 using the same seven-day period.

(File Photo of a Thanksgiving Dinner with Several Dishes)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) Some organizations in Beaver County are providing Thanksgiving dinners for their communities and some restaurants in the area are providing either prepared to-go dinner packages or available dine-in options for Thanksgiving Day, so you don’t have to cook for Thanksgiving. According to the Beaver County Times, here is a short list of these establishments and businesses that are giving these opportunities so you can have one way to be thankful for the blessings in your life:

Twelve Loaves Soup Kitchen, 1031 Second Avenue, in New Brighton, is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner on November 25th between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Donations of turkeys, vegetables, condiments, fruit, pies and more are also needed, according to their Facebook page; these items can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday before the dinner. To volunteer, call 724-678-1287.

Central Global Methodist Church, 1227 Sixth Avenue in Beaver Falls is serving a community Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. November 27th at the church. Dinner is available to eat in or take out, no reservations needed. Volunteers are also needed to help, call 724-417-1208.

Clinton United Methodist Church, 1147 Old Route 18 in Wampum is serving a community Thanksgiving dinner from 1-3 p.m. November 27th at the church. Dine in, curbside pickup or delivery is available; orders are due by November 25th to Laurie at 724-657-4328.

Second Baptist Church and Our Lady of the Valley Parish are hosting a community Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 3 p.m. November 27th at St. Cecilia Church social hall, 643 California Street in Rochester. Free and open to all, eat-in or takeout and walk-ins are welcome. To pre-order, call 724-775-4111. For Thanksgiving day orders, call 724-775-3775 or 724-709-7426.

Coraopolis United Methodist Church, 1205 Ridge Avenue, Coraopolis will host a Thanksgiving Day dinner from 1-3 p.m. November 27th at the church dining hall. All are welcome; no reservations are required. Dine in only.

The Fez, 2312 Brodhead Boulevard, Aliquippa. Offering a Thanksgiving Day buffet with turkey, roast beef, ham and salmon, sides, soup and salad bar and desserts. Soft drinks, coffee and tea are included and a cash bar is open for adult beverages. Seatings are available for noon and 4 p.m. (the 2 p.m. seating is sold out). Reservations are required and can be made online or by calling 724-378-1810 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Individual to-go orders are available from the Thanksgiving buffet by placing a reservation online or over the phone in advance for either a 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. pickup time (The Fez provides containers for customers to fill from the buffet). The Fez also offers a limited number of Thanksgiving dinners to-go that feed 10-12 people. The dinner includes a whole roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, candied yams, cranberry sauce, tossed salad, rolls and butter and two pumpkin pies. Soup and macaroni and cheese can be added at an additional cost. Orders must be placed by Nov. 19, and pickup is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 26 (dinner can be ordered either hot and ready to go or fully cooked with reheat instructions). To order, call 724-378-1810.

Grand Valley Inn, 452 Constitution Boulevard, Fallston. Offering a Thanksgiving buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 27. Reservations are required; call 724-843-9000. Buffet includes turkey, ham and roast beef, tossed salad and coleslaw, lots of side dishes and dessert. Beverages are not included in the buffet price. Grand Valley Inn is also offering single dinners for takeout with dessert included. Call ahead for pricing and to order.

Quality Time and Carryout, 906 Third Avenue, New Brighton. 724-581-4104. Offering a Thanksgiving buffet from 12-4 p.m. with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and other sides. Soup, salad, dinner rolls, dessert and drinks are included in the cost. Reservations are required and are 90 minutes in length, last seating starts at 3 p.m. Parties of six or more people require a nonrefundable deposit. An oven-ready Thanksgiving dinner package is also available, serving about six to eight people. Includes a four-pound turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing and dinner rolls. Other sides and desserts can be added at an additional cost. Call ahead at 724-581-4104 to order for pick up on either November 25th or 26th.

(Photo Courtesy of the Business Wire and the Associated Press)

HANOVER, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov 17, 2025–Boulder Canyon ®, a pioneer in better-for-you snacking, has teamed up with cult-favorite Grillo’s Pickles ® to create its latest unique flavor combination—new Boulder Canyon Wavy Grillo’s Classic Dill Pickle Flavored Chips. An American favorite for more than 30 years, Boulder Canyon continues to set the standards in snacking by using select ingredients, including avocado and olive oils.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251117650588/en/

Boulder Canyon and Grillo’s Pickles Reunite for Second Craveable Chip (Source: Utz Brands, Inc.)

This innovation from Boulder Canyon, the No. 1 salty snack brand in the natural channel 1, will debut at Sprouts Farmers Market nationwide this November. The snack brings together Grillo’s iconic, bold dill pickle flavor with notes of garlic and vinegar and Boulder Canyon’s wavy style potato chips cooked in avocado oil for an irresistibly crisp and bold bite.

“We’re huge fans of Boulder Canyon chips – they deliver on everything we love about great snacks: bold flavor, freshness, and crunch, ” said Grillo’s CMO Mark Luker. “The new Wavy Grillo’s Classic Dill Pickle flavored Chips are the perfect mix of our worlds, and we’re excited to see fans enjoy the evolution of our partnership.”

Made with non-GMO ingredients, these gluten-free and kosher-certified chips offer a zesty, flavor-packed taste with a sturdy, wavy texture that stands up to dipping and gives every bite that tangy punch pickle lovers crave.

“The limited-time Boulder Batch Grillo’s Classic Dill Pickle flavored Kettle Chip became a fan favorite quickly after launching in December 2023, confirming that our consumers want bold, quality flavors from brands they trust,” said Stacey Schultz, SVP, Marketing at Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a subsidiary of Utz Brands, Inc. “That success drove us to collaborate again for a flavor that continues to deliver chips that meet the demand for non-seed oil snacks without sacrificing taste.”

To learn more about Boulder Canyon and its lineup of snacks, visit the Boulder Canyon website or follow @BoulderCanyon on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

To learn more about Grillo’s visit the Grillo’s Pickles website or follow @grillospickles on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Walker Township, PA) A man was recently arrested after police said he abducted a 9-year-old Amish boy in Pennsylvania. Court records confirm twenty-five-year-old Tanner Nipple was both arrested and arraigned on felony counts of kidnapping and a misdemeanor count of false imprisonment after the abduction in September. A Pennsylvania State Police report confirms troopers were called to Locust Run and Renno Roads in Walker Township on September 16th, 2025 for a possible abduction. Troopers learned that the suspect stopped at the farm of the boy and forced him into a vehicle. According to a report from CBS affiliate WHP, the boy told troopers that he was selling produce when a man came up to him and placed a $20 bill in his money container and when he turned around, the boy told police the man wrapped his arms around him, covered his mouth, and shoved him into a white SUV, where he was forced to sit on the floor under the glove compartment, but when the driver made a U-turn, the child opened the door and escaped, running into a cornfield. WHP also reported that DNA evidence led police to Nipple after the $20 bill and other items were sent out to a laboratory for testing and the vicitim could pick Nipple out of a lineup, according to troopers, and phone records also placed his cell phone near the scene of the crime. Police note that Nipple was taken into custody without incident and was arraigned.  

(File Photo of a Fire Background)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A fire broke out in a rowhouse in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh early this morning. It was reported on the 200 block of Glenwood Avenue shortly after 1:30 a.m. There was no word initially on the cause of the fire, which is unknown at this time. The Pittsburgh fire chief confirmed two firefighters were treated on scene after they were injured. It took several hours for firefighters on the scene to get the fire under control.

(File Photo of a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Cars)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) A man was taken to the hospital in critical condition after a single-vehicle crash occurred in Pittsburgh yesterday morning. City officials told WTAE that police and additional emergency responders were called to the intersection of Banksville and McMonagle Avenues at 10:15 a.m. following reports of a single-vehicle crash. The cause of the crash is under investigation at this time, butcity officials confirm it’s believed the man may have suffered a medical emergency, which caused him to lose control of the vehicle. WTAE was also told that bystanders broke the driver’s side window of the vehicle and performed CPR on the male driver until officials arrived.

 

(File Photo of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Car)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Multiple vehicles were damaged after shots were fired in the Lincoln-Lemington Belmar neighborhood of Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon. Pittsburgh police told WTAE that they responded to Dean Street just after 2:30 p.m. following reports of shots being fired. They also confirmed that eight gunshots were fired and there were no reported injuries. WTAE was also told that five vehicles and two cars were damaged. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, file photo shows the YouTube TV logo at the YouTube Space LA in Los Angeles. T (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Disney and YouTube TV reached a new deal to bring channels like ABC and ESPN back to the Google-owned livestreaming platform Friday, ending a blackout for customers that dragged on for over two weeks.

“As part of the new deal, Disney’s full suite of networks and stations — including ESPN and ABC — have already begun to be restored to YouTube TV subscribers,” The Walt Disney Co. said in a statement.

YouTube TV also confirmed the return of Disney content on its platform, noting that subscribers should see channels back “over the course of the day.” It apologized for the disruption and thanked customers for their “patience as we negotiated on their behalf.”

Disney content went dark on YouTube TV the night of Oct. 30 after the two sides failed to reach a new licensing deal. In the days that followed, YouTube TV subscribers were left without Disney channels on the platform — notably disrupting coverage of top college football matchups and professional sports games, as well as news and entertainment programming.

Beyond ESPN and ABC, other Disney-owned content removed from YouTube TV during the impasse included channels like NatGeo, FX, Freeform, SEC Network, ACC Network and more.

Disney Entertainment Co-Chairmen Alan Bergman and Dana Walden and ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said Friday that they were “pleased that our networks have been restored in time for fans to enjoy the many great programming options this weekend, including college football.”

When talks broke down last month, YouTube TV said Disney was proposing costly terms that would lead to higher prices for and fewer choices for its subscribers. It accused Disney of using the blackout as a negotiating tactic — claiming the maneuver also benefited Disney’s own streaming products like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.

Disney, meanwhile, said that YouTube TV had refused to pay fair rates for its channels. The California entertainment giant also accused Google of “using its market dominance to eliminate competition.” And executives blasted the platform for pulling content “prior to the midnight expiration” of their deal in late October.

Both sides also publicly sparred over negotiations and content available leading up to Nov. 4 elections across the U.S.

By the time Disney’s channels returned to YouTube TV, Google’s streamer said it had “reached an agreement with Disney that preserves the value of our service for our subscribers and future flexibility in our offers.” Disney executives maintained that the deal reflected the company’s “continued commitment to delivering exceptional entertainment and evolving with how audiences choose to watch.”

The two-week blackout is among a growing list of licensing disputes seen in the streaming world today, particularly as competition grows overs hosting live content. And consumers often pay the price when company negotiations break down.

The showdown between Disney and YouTube was not their first. YouTube TV subscribers lost access to all Disney content after 2021 contract talks broke down, but that disruption lasted less than two days.

And YouTube TV has removed other content from its platform after expired agreements. Spanish-language broadcaster Univision has been unavailable on YouTube TV since Sept. 30, for example. Parent company TelevisaUnivision decried Google’s move, saying it would strip “millions of Hispanic viewers of the Spanish-language news, sports, and entertainment they rely on every day,” and called on the platform to reverse course.

YouTube TV’s base subscription plan costs $82.99 per month — which, beyond Disney content, currently includes live TV offerings from networks like NBC, CBS, Fox, PBS and more. The platform previously said it would give subscribers a $20 credit its dispute with Disney lasted “an extended period of time” — which it reportedly allowed customers to start claiming on Nov. 9.

Disney also doles out live TV through both traditional broadcasting and its own lineup of streaming platforms. ESPN launched its own streamer earlier this year, starting at $29.99 a month. And other Disney content can be found on platforms like Hulu, Disney+ and Fubo. Disney currently allows people to bundle ESPN along with Hulu and Disney+ for $35.99 a month — or $29.99 a month for the first year.