With holiday travel plans in full swing, this Thanksgiving season is expected to be the busiest ever.
Nearly 82 million people are projected to travel at least 50 miles from their homes over the seven-day holiday period from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, according to the American Automobile Association. Up from over 80 million travelers in 2024, this year’s forecast is setting a new record. In other words, travelers are advised to plan accordingly.
Whether you are flying or driving, here are the best and worst times to travel for Thanksgiving.
Flying by air
AAA expects about 6 million travelers to take domestic flights over Thanksgiving week, marking a 2% increase from last year.
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The busiest days for flights are typically the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for departures and the Sunday after Thanksgiving for return flights. The least crowded day to fly is generally Thanksgiving Day, as most travelers have already reached their destinations by then.
American Airlines expects its busiest day to be Sunday, Nov. 30. United Airlines anticipates the same date to be its most crowded, as well as the day before and after.
While air travel is busier this year than 2024, flight bookings are down 3.3% between Nov. 26 and Nov. 30 in large part due to the historic government shutdown that recently ended. Afterwards, the Federal Aviation Administration lifted all restrictions on commercial flights sooner than some expected.
Travelers should also take into account that among the airports to receive the most traffic in the next week are Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Charlotte Douglas, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Denver International.
Driving by car
Driving is the primary mode of transportation for Thanksgiving week. AAA says over 73 million people will travel by car, accounting for nearly 90% of all holiday travel.
The busiest days to drive for Thanksgiving are Nov. 25 and Nov. 26 due to traffic congestion in the afternoon and Nov. 30 for when people need to return home.
For driving before Thanksgiving, INRIX advises people to hit the road before 12 p.m. on Nov. 25 and before 11 a.m. on Nov. 26. Thanksgiving itself, which falls on Nov. 27, won’t see as much traffic as expected. On the trip home, the best travel times for driving are before 11 a.m. on Nov. 28, before 10 a.m. on Nov. 29, before 11 a.m. on Nov. 30, and after 8 p.m. on Dec. 1.
Drivers should avoid driving in the afternoon for the weeklong holiday period if possible, per INRIX.
As for whether long-distance driving will take a toll on one’s wallet, gasoline prices are staying roughly the same compared to last year. The national average cost for a gallon of gas is around $3.10, four cents above the 2024 average on Thanksgiving.
Also, car rentals will be 15% cheaper this Thanksgiving compared to the holiday last year. Hertz says the busiest day to rent cars will be Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving.
Likelihood of cross-country storm disrupting travel
Depending on their location, travelers would be wise to keep in mind that a major cross-country storm will likely disrupt travel plans in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
The storm landed in Southern California on Friday, bringing heavy rainfall and flash flooding to that part of the state. It shifted next to Arizona by Saturday and the Southern Plains — a region that includes Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas — by Monday.
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The storm will then make its way toward the East Coast into Tuesday, heading north from South Texas through the Mississippi Valley. Severe weather may reach as far north as the Ohio Valley. As a result, travel in certain parts of the country will be impacted midweek when record traffic is expected.
The National Weather Service cautioned those with Thanksgiving travel plans to check the weather forecast before going anywhere and plan accordingly.
