Thanksgiving travel: Airports with the longest wait times
Traveling during Thanksgiving is a nightmare, as passengers nationwide scramble to get home.
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- Record numbers of Americans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year, leading to increased traffic and crowded airports.
- The busiest travel day is expected to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving, while Thanksgiving Day itself will see the least traffic.
- Experts recommend traveling during off-peak hours, such as early mornings or late evenings, to avoid the worst of the traffic congestion.
Another record-breaking number of Americans are planning to travel for Thanksgiving this year, so be prepared for extra busy roads and airports.
Nearly 80 million Americans are forecasted to travel this year – 1.7 million more than last year and two million more than 2019, according to AAA.
“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, in a statement. “Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”
Here’s everything you need to know about Thanksgiving travel this year.
The best and worst days to fly for Thanksgiving
Air travelers should prepare for long lines at U.S. airports as the number of airplane seats scheduled for the Thanksgiving travel period this year is up 4.8% compared to last, according to Hopper’s 2024 Thanksgiving Outlook & Busiest Airports.
The busiest day for air travel will be Sunday, Dec. 1, while the least busy day will be Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28; Black Friday, Nov. 29; and Tuesday, Dec. 3.
For Thanksgiving week, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Denver International Airport are expected to be the busiest airports, especially in the morning between 8 a.m. and noon, according to Hopper.
Best and worst times to drive to the airport for Thanksgiving
If you’re picking up or dropping off a loved one at the airport this Thanksgiving, you may run into some traffic. U.S. airports will be busiest between 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday and the least busy on Sunday at 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., according to data from Google Maps.
What are the worst times for driving for Thanksgiving?
Roads will likely be the most crowded on the days right before Thanksgiving, including Tuesday, Nov. 26, between 1 and 7 p.m., and Wednesday, Nov. 27, between 1 and 5 p.m., according to INRIX.
Travelers returning home will hit the worst traffic on Sunday, Dec. 1, between noon and 6 p.m. Those traveling on Monday between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. should anticipate traffic caused by both travelers and commuters.
What are the best times for driving for Thanksgiving?
Roads on Thanksgiving Day itself will be the emptiest during the holiday period, INRIX found.
However, if you need to travel on the days before Thanksgiving, try to leave as early as possible. The least traffic is expected to be before 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 25; 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26; and 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
After Thanksgiving, the best driving times are going to be in the early morning or late evening. Travelers should aim to hit the road after 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29; before 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 1, and before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2.
Worst travel times in major US cities
“With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, in a statement.
“This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, LA, Seattle, and Washington, DC, where traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day,” Pishue added.
Atlanta
◾ Worst route: Birmingham to Atlanta via I-20 E
◾ Worst day: Sunday
◾ Worst time: 4:45 p.m.
◾ Estimated travel time: 3 hours, 17 minutes
◾ Increased travel time: 38%
Boston
◾ Worst route: Boston to Portsmouth via I-95 N
◾ Worst day: Tuesday
◾ Worst time: 3:45 p.m.
◾ Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
◾ Increased travel time: 117%
Chicago
◾ Worst route: Indianapolis to Chicago via I-65 N
◾ Worst day: Sunday
◾ Worst time: 3:45 p.m.
◾ Estimated travel time: 4 hours, 11 minutes
◾ Increased travel time: 45%
Los Angeles
◾ Worst route: Los Angeles to Bakersfield via I-5 N
◾ Worst day: Wednesday
◾ Worst time: 7:45 p.m.
◾ Estimated travel time: 3 hours, 49 minutes
◾ Increased travel time: 111%
New York
◾ Worst route: New York to Hamptons via Long Island Expressway E
◾ Worst day: Tuesday
◾ Worst time: 4:30 p.m.
◾ Estimated travel time: 3 hours, 27 minutes
◾ Increased travel time: 133%
San Francisco
◾ Worst route: San Francisco to Sacramento via I-80 E
◾ Worst day: Tuesday
◾ Worst time: 7:30 p.m.
◾ Estimated travel time: 3 hours, 2 minutes
◾ Increased travel time: 88%
Seattle
◾ Worst route: Seattle to Ellensburg via I-90 W
◾ Worst day: Tuesday
◾ Worst time: 7 p.m.
◾ Estimated travel time: 3 hours, 31 minutes
◾ Increased travel time: 119%
Washington, D.C.
◾ Worst route: Washington, DC to Annapolis
◾ Worst day: Tuesday
◾ Worst time: 10:30 a.m.
◾ Estimated travel time: 1 hour
◾ Increased travel time: 120%
Atlanta
◾ Worst route:
◾ Worst day:
◾ Worst time:
◾ Estimated travel time: 4 hours, 2 minutes.
◾ Increased travel time: