Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, and millions of Americans will be on the road and in the air in the days around it (and many more will watch the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at home). AAA has not yet published its 2026 forecast, but the patterns from recent years are consistent enough to plan around. Here is how to pick the least stressful days and times.
Note: the numbers below come from the 2025 holiday. We will update this article when AAA, INRIX and the airlines release 2026 projections.
How busy will it be?
For Thanksgiving 2025, AAA projected a record 81.8 million people traveling at least 50 miles from home over the holiday period, 1.6 million more than the year before. About 73 million, nearly 90%, were expected to drive. Air travel is a smaller share of trips but is concentrated in a few peak days, which is why airports feel packed.
Expect a similar or higher volume this year, even though surveys show fewer Americans plan holiday trips and many are driving instead of flying. Travel has set records in most recent holiday seasons.
If you’re driving
Traffic analytics firm INRIX has identified the same general pattern in recent years:
Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 25): the worst day for departures. Traffic is typically heaviest in the late morning through the evening. If you must travel, aim to leave before 11 a.m.; the worst window in last year’s analysis ran from about 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday (Nov. 24) or very early Wednesday: usually lighter, especially in the early morning.
Thanksgiving Day: generally the easiest day to drive, with few delays expected, and the three NFL Thanksgiving games keep many people home.
Returning: the best windows are usually before 10 or 11 a.m. Friday through Sunday, or after 8 p.m. on Monday. Sunday afternoon and evening are typically the most congested.
Build in extra time near major cities, bridges and tunnels, and check your route right before leaving.
If you’re flying
Airfare tracking from Hopper and Expedia found a clear pattern last year:
Busiest and most expensive day to fly: the Sunday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 29).
Cheapest days to leave:Thanksgiving Day itself, or roughly three days before (Monday, Nov. 23).
Cheapest days to return:Black Friday (Nov. 27) or the following Tuesday (Dec. 1).
Early-morning flights are less likely to be delayed or cancelled than late-day flights because problems build through the day.
Fly nonstop when possible. Connections multiply the chance of a missed flight, especially in winter weather.
Check bag fees and carry-on rules before you pack gifts and food.
Allow extra time at the airport. Arriving earlier than usual protects you from security lines. Many travelers will be on a flight for the first time in months.
Download your airline’s app and turn on alerts. Rebooking on the app is often faster than waiting in line.
Have a weather plan. Early winter storms can disrupt both highways and airports. Check the forecast for your route and your connection cities a few days out, and consider a travel-protection policy if you have a nonrefundable ticket.
Prepare the car. Check tire pressure, fluids and your spare, and carry water, a charger and a blanket.
Don’t count on cheap gas to be everywhere. Prices vary significantly by state, and Black Friday deals start the next morning if you are shopping on the way home. Apps that show local prices can save several cents a gallon.
Quick plan by traveler type
Most flexibility: Leave Tuesday or Thanksgiving morning; return Friday or Tuesday.
Must leave Wednesday: Drive before 11 a.m. or after the evening rush; fly the first flight of the day.
Return Sunday: Expect the highest fares and the longest lines. If you can stay one more day, you will likely save money and time.
Timing recommendations are based on 2025 patterns and may shift. Check current conditions before you travel.
