Cars congest Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport the day before Thanksgiving Day in 2024, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Marthe Lavandier/AP
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Marthe Lavandier/AP
A record number of people are expected to travel to the United States for Thanksgiving, whether by plane, train or automobile.
Nearly 82 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, an increase of 1.6 million people from last year’s holiday. according to an AAA report released Monday.
Most of them will hit the road by car, and about 73.2 million people are expected to drive, AAA said. This represents 1.8% more car travelers compared to the 2024 holiday period.
AAA predicts 6 million people will fly domestically for the holidays, a 2% increase from last year. However, due to concerns over recent flight delays and cancellations, AAA also said that number could end up dropping slightly if travelers make last-minute arrangements to use other transportation options. Staffing shortages during the prolonged government shutdown earlier this month led to massive flight disruptions.
The FAA lifted its directive that called for an emergency reduction in flights, allowing airlines to resume operations as normal. Aeronautical experts warned It might take a while before flights return to normal, but industry leaders seemed confident that flight operations would return to their normal pre-shutdown levels, in time for the Thanksgiving travel frenzy. Weather forecasts for booking holidays in some parts of the country could lead to disruptions and flight delays.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said On Friday, he expected the upcoming holiday rush to be the busiest Thanksgiving air travel period in 15 years, with Tuesday being the busiest flying day.
Travel via other modes of transport – bus, train and cruise – is expected to increase by 8.5% this year, with a likely increase in last-minute bus and train bookings.
“People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to create unforgettable memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or catching up with friends,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement Monday.
Here’s what else you need to know:
Do you drive in the afternoon? Think again
Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon are expected to be the most congested times for drivers in major metropolitan areas, according to INRIXa transportation analysis company.
If you’re driving, the best times to hit the road for the holidays will be before noon on Tuesday and 11 a.m. on Wednesday to avoid traffic jams, according to the company. Thanksgiving Day will have minimal impacts on road traffic.
When returning home from vacation, travelers are advised to start driving before noon, every day except Monday. The Sunday after Thanksgiving will likely be busy for most of the day and the best time to travel Monday will be after 8 p.m., INRIX said.
The weather could be complicated, but should clear up for your return trip
During peak hours Monday through Wednesday, rain extending from southern Texas to Minnesota will move across the country to the east, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
“Monday through Tuesday, it’s probably going to be a little bit problematic, from Texas to eastern Oklahoma, through Arkansas and northwest Louisiana,” NWS senior forecaster Bob Oravec told NPR.
By Thanksgiving Day, temperatures will be a little drier across the United States. Temperatures will be colder than average across the majority of the country on Thanksgiving morning, with central regions of the United States seeing temperatures in the teens. On Black Friday, temperatures will be warmer than average from the Great Plains to the West Coast, with places like Denver, Colorado, seeing temperatures in the mid-50s, Oravec said.
The worst weather will occur across much of the central and eastern United States, where lake-effect snow showers will come from the Great Lakes, Oravec said.
For holidaymakers returning home on Friday and Saturday, the weather should be good for much of the country, he said. But a storm system is expected to develop over the weekend.
Saturday and Sunday, the system could bring heavy snow to western Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota as well as parts of Minnesota up to Wisconsin, according to Oravec. Sunday, from Texas to Missouri and Illinois, rain chances are expected to increase.
