These Are the Best and Worst Times to Travel for Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving holiday is upon us, and a record number of Americans are reportedly planning to travel for their big turkey meal. That means you might find yourself stuck in traffic for hours on end depending on when you leave the house. 

Every major travel season, AAA releases a report outlining the best and worst times to hit the road and where in the U.S. many travelers are going. This year, a record 71.7 million people are estimated to be traveling by car over Thanksgiving, marking a 1.3-million traveler jump compared to last year and surpassing the pre-pandemic record of 70.6 million drivers in 2019. 

Air travel is also expected to set a new record this year. Roughly 5.84 million people are expected to fly domestically this Thanksgiving—a two-percent increase from last year and nearly 11-percent increase from 2019. 

"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," AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber said. "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."

Related: Here Are the Best and Worst Dates to Hit the Road for Holiday Travel

If you're looking to avoid traffic on the roads this holiday, you'll want to strategically time your departures. According to transportation data company INRIX, the worst times to travel by car this week are Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon; by contrast, the best time to get behind the wheel is Thanksgiving Day itself. 

Getting on the road Tuesday or Wednesday? Make sure you do so before 10 a.m. local time. And if you're planning to head home on Black Friday, leave either between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. or wait until after 1 p.m. For the coming weekend, hit the road before 1 p.m. and try to avoid the afternoon rush. 

"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," INRIX transportation analyst Bob Pishue said. "This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, L.A., Seattle, and Washington, D.C., where traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day."

Be extra careful if you're traveling with any dishes to your big family meal and make sure the precious cargo is secured before you get on the road.