This is exactly when you should hit the road to avoid traffic and make it on time to Thanksgiving dinner, according to a new report
These Are the Best—and Worst—Times for Avoiding Thanksgiving Traffic
Published on Nov. 18, 2024
One Thanksgiving, my husband and I decided to drive across the country to visit family—along with our four kids under 8 and, for reasons that are too dumb to explain here, the family cat. We gave the cat some kitty Valium, but instead of knocking her out, it just made her high. At which point one of the kids decided to let her out of her carrier … while we were on the freeway … in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Thanks to the terrible traffic, we were trapped for hours in that pandemonium. And that was before we even made it to our destination, where other mayhem awaited us. But if I’d known the best time to travel to avoid Thanksgiving holiday traffic, at least one of those negatives could have been avoided. (The cat situation is 100% my fault, and I’ll own that.)
Thankfully, AAA recently released a report about the best and worst times to travel for Thanksgiving 2024 so you can avoid similar holiday disasters. These predictions are incredibly important because AAA projects nearly 80 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period—an increase of 1.7 million people compared with last year. And more than 90% of folks will be traveling by car.
While you might be part of the record-setting crowd this year, you definitely don’t want to set a personal record for how long it takes you to drive to your destination. Read on to find out the best and worst times to travel this year to avoid Thanksgiving holiday traffic.
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How were the best and worst times to travel over Thanksgiving determined?
AAA worked with S&P Global Market Intelligence to come up with these travel predictions for everyone’s favorite November holiday. They analyzed previous years’ travel patterns and examined dozens of current variables that affect traffic, such as macroeconomic factors and things related directly to travel, including gasoline prices, airline travel and hotel stays. They also surveyed more than 50,000 American households about their upcoming travel plans. All this data was used to make the travel forecast for Thanksgiving 2024.
What are the best times to drive to and from your Thanksgiving destination?
The best times to drive are early in the morning or later in the evening. If you think you might be able to swing a half day at work and leave a few hours before rush hour, think again. And of course, anything near the end of the school or work day will probably cause you to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic. As for the best day to travel? That would be Thanksgiving Day itself—likely because everyone would prefer to be at their destination by then, so they don’t miss the big turkey dinner.
Here are the best times to drive to—and home from—your destination:
- Monday, Nov. 25: Before 11 a.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 26: Before 10 a.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27: Before 10 a.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving): All day, anytime
- Friday, Nov. 29: After 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 30: Before 1 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 1: Before 1 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 2: Before 8 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
Note that the times listed here (and in the sections below) are for the time zone in which the area is located.
What are the worst times to drive to and from your Thanksgiving destination?
The worst times to drive are the afternoon and evening of the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Below, see the times you definitely want to avoid being on the road, according to AAA:
- Monday, Nov. 25: 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 26: 1 p.m.–7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27: 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving): No particularly bad times
- Friday, Nov. 29: 7 a.m.–10 a.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 30: 4 p.m.–8 p.m.
- Sunday, Dec. 1: 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 2: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
What are the worst driving routes on Thanksgiving?
No, you can’t choose your family—or where you’ll be driving to see them. Which means you’ll have to buckle up, hope for the best and try to leave at the optimal time if you’re taking one of the the following routes that include freeways going into or out of major metropolitan areas. It’s best to check your local news and traffic apps for the most current travel information, but below, you’ll find the peak congestion for the five worst offenders on AAA’s list.
New York
- Route: New York City to the Hamptons via Long Island Expressway East
- Peak congestion: Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 4:30 p.m.
- Estimated travel time: 3 hours and 27 minutes
- Increase in travel time compared with a typical day: 133%
Washington, D.C.
- Route: Washington, D.C., to Annapolis, Maryland, via US-50 East
- Peak congestion: Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 4:30 p.m.
- Estimated travel time: 1 hour and 31 minutes
- Increase in travel time compared with a typical day: 120%
Seattle
- Route: Seattle to Ellensburg, Washington, via I-90 West
- Peak congestion: Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 7 p.m.
- Estimated travel time: 3 hours and 31 minutes
- Increase in travel time compared with a typical day: 119%
Boston
- Route: Boston to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, via I-95 North
- Peak congestion: Tuesday, Nov. 26, at 3:45 p.m.
- Estimated travel time: 2 hours and 35 minutes
- Increase in travel time compared with a typical day: 117%
Los Angeles
- Route: Los Angeles to Bakersfield, California, via I-5 North
- Peak congestion: Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 7:45 p.m.
- Estimated travel time: 3 hours and 49 minutes
- Increase in time compared with a typical day: 111%
Check AAA’s site for other big metro areas and their predicted delays, including San Francisco (an 88% increase in travel time on I-80 E), Philadelphia (a 62% increase on I-76/I-476 PA Turnpike) and Tampa (a 69% increase on I-75 N).
Also remember that even if you’re not going the entire distance on this route, your trip will still be massively affected if you’re turning off at a destination along the way. If you can’t leave at the optimal time, you may want to look into alternate routes or modes of transportation.
What are the best and worst times for air travel over Thanksgiving?
The peak flying days are expected to be the Tuesday and Wednesday before the holiday, with the busiest times in the early mornings and late afternoons. Obviously, you’ve already bought your tickets, but with approximately 6 million Americans expected to fly for Thanksgiving in 2024, knowing this information can help you plan ahead. If you’re flying during these times, you should plan for longer security lines and potential delays.
Good luck—and Happy Thanksgiving!
Knowing when to travel is just one part of holiday travel. Make sure your navigation apps are up to date, pack yummy road-trip snacks and always check weather forecasts—both for your current location and your destination.
And no matter how you’re traveling this year, we hope this info helps you to travel safely and efficiently, and that you have the happiest of holidays … hopefully with no traffic jams, massive flight delays or drugged cats.
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Source:
- AAA Newsroom: “Nearly 80 Million Americans Expected to Travel Over Thanksgiving”
