AAA expects 81.5 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Monday, Nov. 30, 2026. That’s about 121,000 fewer people than last year, which ends a three-year run of record Thanksgiving travel. If you’re driving, the short answer on timing is simple: leave in the morning. INRIX, the traffic data firm that works with AAA, says the worst congestion will hit on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons heading out and on Sunday and Monday afternoons coming home, while Thanksgiving Day itself should be quiet.

Below are the full best and worst driving times, the routes expected to jam the most, what’s happening with flights, gas and rental cars, and the places people are heading.

Thanksgiving 2026 travel forecast at a glance

According to AAA’s 2026 Thanksgiving forecast, which it builds with S&P Global Market Intelligence, the numbers break down like this:

• By car: 72.9 million people, down from 73.1 million last year. That’s still nearly 90% of all Thanksgiving travelers.
• By air: 5.96 million domestic flyers, a 0.2% dip.
• By bus, train and cruise: 2.6 million, up 4.1%. This is the only group that’s growing.

AAA puts part of the drop in road trips down to this season’s record gas prices. It says August, September and October all set monthly records at the pump. Even so, nearly everyone is still driving, because for most families it’s the cheapest way to get everyone to the table.

Best and worst times to drive for Thanksgiving 2026

INRIX says the heaviest traffic will build in the afternoon and early evening, and big metros like New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Boston could see more than double their usual congestion. Times are local to each metro.

If your family is flexible, driving on Thanksgiving morning itself is the clear winner. Otherwise, set an early alarm on Tuesday or Wednesday and aim to be past the city limits before lunch.

The routes expected to jam the most

INRIX also picked out the single worst moment on some of the country’s busiest holiday routes, measured against a normal trip on the same road:

• New York to the Hamptons: Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 4:30 p.m., 138% longer than usual.
• Bakersfield to Los Angeles (I-5 South): Saturday, Nov. 28 at 7:15 p.m., 121% longer.
• Boston to Portsmouth (I-95 North): Monday, Nov. 30 at 2:45 p.m., 104% longer.
• San Francisco to Sacramento (I-80 East): Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 7:15 p.m., 85% longer.
• Seattle to Bellingham (I-5 North): Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 6:45 p.m., 83% longer.
• Tampa to Gainesville (I-75 North): Saturday, Nov. 28 at 3 p.m., 73% longer.
• Eugene to Portland (I-5 North): Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 4:45 p.m., 64% longer.
• Pueblo to Denver (I-25 North): Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 5:30 p.m., 63% longer.
• Philadelphia to the Poconos (I-476 North): Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 4:30 p.m., 58% longer.
• Grand Rapids to Detroit (I-96 East): Friday, Nov. 27 at 4:45 p.m., 42% longer.

Notice how many of these peaks land on Tuesday evening. Many drivers are spreading out their departures, too: in a Hertz survey, 32% of people driving for Thanksgiving said they plan to leave the weekend before, so Tuesday afternoon is no longer the quiet head start it used to be. If you’re planning a longer drive, our guide to road trip destinations and planning has more on pacing a big day behind the wheel.

What gas will cost on the drive

AAA notes that the national average has never been above $4 a gallon on Thanksgiving Day. The previous Thanksgiving high was $3.58, back in 2022. This year could test that record, but there’s some relief: Market Daily reports AAA’s national average slipped to $3.98 on Nov. 10 and $3.94 on Nov. 11, its first time under $4 since July, though still about 87 cents higher than a year ago.

To keep costs down, AAA suggests signing up for gas station loyalty programs and packing your own food. It also reminds drivers to check tires, the battery and fluids before leaving. Last Thanksgiving, AAA answered more than half a million roadside calls for flat tires, dead batteries, empty tanks, lockouts and tows.

Flying for Thanksgiving: the busiest days and airports

Fewer people are flying, but they’re paying a lot more for it. AAA says domestic round-trip tickets booked through its agency are 17% more expensive than last year, averaging $800. Hopper’s data, reported by ABC News, puts domestic Thanksgiving fares up 39% from 2025, the highest in at least 10 years. The two numbers measure different things, but both point the same way. We explain why fares climbed so sharply in our look at holiday airfare hitting a 10-year high.

Here’s what airlines and Hopper expect, according to ABC News:

• Busiest flying day: Sunday, Nov. 29. American Airlines has 7,021 flights scheduled that day, its biggest operating day since the pandemic, and United expects about 600,000 customers.
• Busiest day before the holiday at United: Friday, Nov. 20, with more than 540,000 customers.
• Busiest airports: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson and Dallas-Fort Worth, each with more than 2 million seats scheduled between Nov. 21 and Dec. 1.
• Overall: Airlines for America projects nearly 29 million passengers over the Thanksgiving period.

Weather is the other wildcard. An unusually early polar vortex disruption has already shaken up the November outlook, and we covered what the polar vortex could mean for Thanksgiving travel if you’re flying through the Midwest or Northeast.

Trains and rental cars

Amtrak told ABC News it expects record ridership. It’s adding capacity on the Northeast Corridor from Nov. 20 to 30, plus two extra round trips between Washington, D.C. and New York on Nov. 24 and 25 and again on Nov. 28 and 29. Book early, because those trains fill up.

Rental counters will be busy too. Hertz says its Thanksgiving bookings are up 16% from last year, and its busiest pickup days will be Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 25. Small and standard SUVs are the most booked, and seven-seaters are expected to sell out first. Hertz’s own tip is to pick up the weekend before Thanksgiving, when rates tend to be lower. For more ways to avoid surprises at the counter, see our tips for a stress-free car rental.

Where Americans are going for Thanksgiving 2026

Based on AAA Travel bookings, Florida dominates the domestic list thanks to theme parks and cruises. Detroit and Dallas make the top 10 because they host the Thanksgiving Day football games.

• Top domestic destinations: Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Anaheim/Los Angeles, New York, Tampa, Las Vegas, Detroit, Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth.
• Top international destinations: Budapest, Cancun, Paris, Barcelona, Puerto Vallarta, London, Basel, Amsterdam, Rome and Munich.

AAA says river cruises and holiday markets are pulling travelers to Hungary, Switzerland and the Netherlands. If that’s you, check our list of Christmas market opening dates for 2026, since many of the big ones open in mid to late November.

Frequently asked questions

What is the worst day to drive for Thanksgiving 2026?

INRIX expects Tuesday, Nov. 24 and Wednesday, Nov. 25 to be the busiest days heading out, and Sunday, Nov. 29 and Monday, Nov. 30 to be the busiest coming home. The worst stretches are in the afternoon and early evening.

Is Thanksgiving Day a good day to drive?

Yes. AAA and INRIX expect minimal traffic on Thursday, Nov. 26.

How many people will travel for Thanksgiving 2026?

AAA projects 81.5 million, slightly fewer than last year’s 81.6 million, with 72.9 million going by car and 5.96 million flying.

What is the busiest day to fly?

Sunday, Nov. 29, according to Hopper and the major airlines.