Thanksgiving Travel: What to Expect

Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday in the United States, with millions of people hitting the road or boarding planes to spend time with family and friends. This year, the holiday travel season starts on Friday, November 17 and continues until Tuesday, November 28.

The year 2023 has already set records for travel, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Administrator David Pekoske announced that seven out of the ten busiest days in TSA history occurred this year. The TSA expects to screen over 30 million travelers during this period, with the three busiest days being the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after.

Most Americans will be traveling by car to reach their Thanksgiving destinations. AAA forecasts that more than 55 million people will travel at least 50 miles between Wednesday, November 22 and Sunday, November 26, and over 49 million of them will be driving. This year's travel numbers are expected to be the third-highest since 2000, indicating a return to pre-pandemic levels.

If you are planning to travel during this time, here's what you can expect:

• Increased traffic on the roads
• Longer wait times at airports
• Higher demand for rental cars and hotels
• Possible flight delays or cancellations

For more information and travel tips, you can visit the AAA website.

The days leading up to the holiday: Friday — Tuesday

Travel and transportation organizations said that people traveling for the holiday tend to spread out the days they leave, which means travelers won't face as much congestion in the days leading up to Wednesday.

While Friday, Nov. 17 is expected to be the fourth-busiest of the period for air travel, according to trade group Airlines for America, the number of flights will tick up on Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 19, going from an estimated 39,055 flights to 44,147, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Travel has traditionally been lighter the Monday before Thanksgiving than other days near the holiday, but United Airlines noted in its announcement that travel on off-peak days is getting fuller compared with 2019 — thanks in part to remote work. The airline said demand the Monday before Thanksgiving is up nearly 10% compared with 2019 — while in contrast, demand for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is up a mere 3%. Still, the FAA says more than 46,000 flights are scheduled for Monday, Nov. 20 — more than either Saturday or Sunday, but much fewer than the peak travel day, Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Nov. 21, TSA is projecting to screen 2.6 million passengers; the FAA is forecasting more than 48,000 flights for the day.

The day before Thanksgiving: Wednesday, Nov. 22

If you're traveling the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, you'll have a lot of company. The Federal Aviation Administration says that's the day the most flights are scheduled — 49,606 of them in the U.S., to be exact.

Thanksgiving Travel

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is anticipating screening 2.7 million passengers on Wednesday, making it the second-busiest day of the holiday period for flyers, according to Airlines for America.

Wednesday will also see the highest number of drivers hitting the road, as reported by AAA and transportation data company Inrix. AAA advises drivers to begin their journeys before 11 a.m., as the busiest time for auto travelers will be between 2–6 p.m.

"The day before Thanksgiving is notoriously one of the most congested days on our roadways. Travelers should be prepared for long delays, especially in and around major metros," said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. "Knowing when and where congestion will build can help minimize holiday traffic frustrations. We advise drivers to use traffic apps, local DOT notifications, and 511 services for real-time updates."

Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 23 and Black Friday, Nov. 24

Thanksgiving itself is expected to be one of the lightest travel days for flyers, according to Airlines for America. For those planning to drive, AAA recommends traveling before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m., as the busiest time on the roads is expected to be between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there will be more flights on Friday compared to Saturday, with a total of 44,744 flights expected on Friday and 41,640 flights on Saturday. However, Airlines for America predicts that Saturday will be the fifth busiest day of the Thanksgiving travel period.

If you plan to take advantage of early brick-and-mortar Black Friday sales at your holiday destination, it's recommended to take a break before hitting the road to go back home. INRIX, a transportation analytics company, states that the most congested times to drive will be between 12–4 p.m., while roads will be less crowded before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

Travel Days: Saturday, Nov. 25, Sunday, Nov. 26, and Monday, Nov. 27

The FAA reports that there are nearly 42,000 flights scheduled for Saturday and almost 45,000 flights on Sunday. Airlines for America expects Sunday to be the busiest travel day, with over 3.2 million passengers flying.

This expectation is also shared by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which anticipates screening 2.9 million airline passengers on Sunday, Nov. 26. United Airlines has also announced that Sunday will be one of their busiest travel days since before the pandemic, with more than 517,000 people expected to fly on a United flight that day.

According to data company Cirium, Sunday is projected to be the busiest travel day of the year. However, AAA reports that Monday is also a popular day for travelers to fly back after Thanksgiving. American Airlines anticipates Sunday to be its busiest day with 6,100 departures, followed by Monday with 6,000 departures. Delta expects peak travel days to be Sunday and Monday, while Airlines for America predicts Sunday to be the first busiest day and Monday to be the third busiest for air travel during the Thanksgiving period.

If you plan to bring food in your carry-on for Thanksgiving or take leftovers home, the TSA advises being prepared for additional screening. The TSA states that any food items that can spill, spread, spray, pump, or pour and are larger than 3.4 ounces should be placed in a checked bag. If you need to keep items cold, frozen solid ice packs are allowed, but they must not be melted during security screening.

TSA Guidelines for Thanksgiving Travel

Thanksgiving is a time for feasting and traveling to be with loved ones. However, if you plan to bring food items with you on your flight, it's important to be aware of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines.

The TSA has stated that certain Thanksgiving food items can be carried on, such as pie, turkey, and stuffing. However, items like cranberry sauce, gravy, and wine must be checked in as part of your luggage.

If you do decide to carry on these food items, the TSA recommends packing them in a way that makes them easy to remove from your bag during the screening process. They also advise placing them in a separate bin for screening when it's your turn at the security checkpoint.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure a smooth and hassle-free travel experience during the Thanksgiving holiday.