Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel, according to AAA. With that in mind, here are a few things travelers should know before embarking on their holiday journey.
This year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 27. The holiday travel period is from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1.
AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period. It’s predicted that an additional 1.6 million domestic travelers will hit the road, compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record.
“Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends.”
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 27. The holiday travel period is from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1.
Planes, trains and automobiles
AAA projects at least 73 million people will travel by car, which makes up about 90% of Thanksgiving travelers, according to AAA.
Drivers are paying about the same as last year at the pump, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.06 on Thanksgiving Day.
AAA officials advise drivers to fill the tank the night before a road trip, and check the car battery and tire pressure before hitting the road. During the Thanksgiving 2024 travel period, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks.
Roughly 6 million U.S. travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday period, a 2% increase compared to 2024.
However, AAA believes that figure could end up being slightly lower as some air travelers make other plans following recent flight cancellations due to the government shutdown. The number of Thanksgiving air travelers over the past several years – with the exception of 2020 – has been between 5 and 6 million, according to AAA.
When should you hit the road over Thanksgiving holiday?
INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to be the most congested periods before Thanksgiving Day.
Travelers returning home on Sunday should also expect heavy traffic most of the day.
AAA suggests that drivers leave in the morning to avoid the worst backups. In Northern California, peak travel congestion is expected between noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday and again on Sunday between noon and 6 p.m. Along I-5 in Los Angeles, the peak congestion time is estimated to be Wednesday around 7:45 p.m.
Shasta County travelers flying out of Redding Regional Airport should know that the three busiest days at airports nationwide will be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday.
To avoid the worst airport crowds, choose the Monday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 25) or Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28). AAA added that those days typically have some of the lowest prices on tickets around the holiday.
Redding Regional recommends that travelers be prepared and provides the following travel tips:
Arrive early
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Passengers with checked baggage should arrive 60-90 minutes before scheduled departure time. Busiest times at the checkpoint are 4 a.m. – 6 a.m., 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.
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Passengers intending to check baggage must complete the baggage check-in process at the airline counter at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.
Prepare for TSA security screening
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Electronic devices such as cellphones, laptops or gaming consoles and other personal valuables should be placed in your personal item or carry-on bag, not your checked bag.
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Passengers in need of additional assistance during the security screening process are encouraged to contact TSA Cares.
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Be prepared for any scenario. Have your photo identification and boarding pass ready. This will prevent slowing down the screening process.
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Passengers must be screened by (TSA) and be in the Passenger Hold Room at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.
Monitor airline flight status
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Download airline apps to receive real-time updates such flight status, boarding times, gate numbers and any other important announcements.
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Travelers are advised to immediately contact their airline if their flight has been affected.
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Medications should be kept on your person in the event of delayed checked, or gate checked carry-on baggage.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Thanksgiving travel tips to avoid the worst traffic, airport crowds