The United States is gearing up for what promises to be one of the most bustling Thanksgiving travel periods in recent memory. Millions of Americans are preparing to embark on journeys by car and plane to reunite with family and friends for the holiday.
According to AAA, an estimated 81.8 million people plan to travel at least 50 miles from home, with a significant 73 million opting for road trips. The auto club cautions that this number may swell if travelers pivot from air travel to driving, spurred by potential flight cancellations.
AAA’s car rental affiliate, Hertz, anticipates Wednesday to be the peak day for vehicle pickups. The hottest rental markets are expected to be Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Newark. Moreover, AAA’s data indicates that renting a car within the U.S. has become 15% more affordable compared to the previous Thanksgiving.
In an image captured from above, vehicles are seen journeying along Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas, on November 24, 2025. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
While the roads are set to be more crowded, travelers can find solace in the fact that driving home for the holidays will be more economical this season. GasBuddy forecasts a national average price of $3.02 per gallon, mirroring last year’s rates. This means that both 2024 and 2025 will hold the record for the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since the pandemic era, where the national average reached $3.39 per gallon in 2021 and $3.56 in 2022.
GasBuddy predicted a national average of $3.02 per gallon over the holiday, matching last year’s price. Both 2024 and 2025 now share the distinction of marking the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices since the pandemic, when the national average hit $3.39 a gallon in 2021 and $3.56 in 2022.
Ahead of the holiday celebrations, AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are reminding travelers that driving while impaired makes the roads dangerous for everyone. Both AAA and MADD are urging drivers to have a plan before imbibing by using a rideshare app, taking public transit or designating a sober driver.
Travelers wait at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, N.J., on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025. ( Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Airports are also expected to be busy over the week. The Federal Aviation (FAA) Administration said over 360,000 flights were scheduled during the Thanksgiving travel period. However, it expects to have “solid staffing” to manage the extra travelers.
The FAA predicted this Thanksgiving travel period to be the busiest in 15 years, noting that Nov. 25 was the peak travel day with more than 52,000 flights.
Despite the rush, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford was optimistic that the FAA would be prepared to tackle the challenge.
“Thanks to the dedication of our air traffic controllers and every FAA employee, we are ready for the holiday rush and take pride in helping travelers reach their friends and families during this important time of year,” Bedford said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to our entire FAA team. Even through a period of record-high traffic, their unwavering commitment keeps the system running safely.”
Passengers carry their luggage as they wait to board flights for the Thanksgiving holidays, at Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 26, 2025. (Jim Vondruska/Reuters)
To help make some of the chaos more pleasant, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is urging more civility in travel with the Department of Transportation’s new “Golden Age of Travel” campaign. He’s encouraging Americans to be kinder and considerate of one another, and to dress respectfully when flying.
“There’s no question we’ve lost sight of what makes travel fun — the excitement, the relaxation, the cordial conversations,” the Department of Transportation’s statement on the campaign reads. “Americans already feel divided and stressed. We can all do our part to bring back civility, manners, and common sense.”
An FAA chart showing how many flights have been scheduled for each day of the Thanksgiving travel period indicates that Thursday will have the least number of flights with just over 25,600 scheduled compared to Tuesday’s 52,185 flights. Meanwhile, the FAA believes air travel will pick up again, with Sunday having 51,268 flights scheduled, almost as many as Nov. 25.
