Whether you’re going to your cousin’s house for Thanksgiving or using the long weekend for a beach getaway, one thing is certain: You will not be alone. In 2023, nearly 3 million people traveled through airports in the United States the Sunday after Thanksgiving, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Its estimate for the number of people traveling between November 17 and 27, 2023, was 29.9 million, an increase of 9 percent from 2022.
While predictions for the number of people traveling over Thanksgiving weekend in 2024 aren’t out yet, AAA estimated last year that Thanksgiving weekend 2023—the Wednesday to Sunday—would see the holiday period’s highest travel volume since 2019, with 55.4 million Americans traveling 50 miles or more. We can imagine it will be another packed year.
The busiest days to travel over Thanksgiving
The busiest travel days will still be the Tuesday and Wednesday just before Thanksgiving plus the Sunday after Thanksgiving—the Sunday that, in 2023, saw TSA screening nearly 3 million people across the country.
As for driving, AAA reports that the Wednesday before Thanksgiving from 2 to 6 p.m. is the overall busiest time to drive.
What will flights cost?
AAA reported in November 2023 that the average price for a domestic flight in November and December was $681, up 5 percent from 2022. For international flights, the average price was $1,231, down 5.7 percent from 2022.
Flight prices vary significantly, of course, based on when you book, and where you’re flying to and from. Large airports with thousands of flights will have more competitive prices.
What about rental cars?
AAA reports that the average price for a domestic rental car for Thanksgiving weekend was $590 in 2023, down a cool 20 percent from 2022.
Maybe I’ll take the train
Good idea. If Amtrak services your destination, taking the train is the least stressful way to travel over Thanksgiving. There’s no hectic security screening before boarding and, once aboard, you’ll have Wi-Fi, plenty of legroom, and nice views out the window. Be sure to book your tickets well ahead; when booked in advance, Amtrak has reasonable prices, but last-minute tickets are super pricey—and popular routes are often sold out.
And if you’d rather ditch Thanksgiving and take a long weekend somewhere warm, you can even take the train all the way from Chicago to Miami; it’s AAA’s third-most popular holiday weekend getaway.
Tempted to head somewhere warm for Thanksgiving? You’re not alone; AAA ranks Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, as the third most popular international destination.
Photo by onapalmtree/Shutterstock
Avoid (or embrace) the crowds
Warm weather jaunts and theme park visits, according to AAA’s list of top destinations for Thanksgiving, are the clear winners. Whether you want to join the crowd or escape from them, here are the top domestic and international destinations.
Domestic destinations
- Orlando, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- Anaheim, California
- Tampa, Florida
International destinations
- Cancun, Mexico
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Bahrain
- Rome, Italy
How to get through TSA with less stress
Yes, we all know this, but consider this your official holiday travel season reminder: For carry-on luggage, liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes must be 3.4 ounces or less, and all bottles must fit into a single quart-size plastic bag to be placed in a bin for screening. Larger liquids, gels, creams, and aerosols should be placed into checked bags. Let a TSA officer know if you’re traveling with larger quantities of liquid medications, breast milk, or formula, as those need to be screened separately.
Can I bring my snacks through TSA?
You can and should bring snacks in your carry-on. Delays during Thanksgiving weekend are almost a given, and airport food is often expensive.
What about cranberry sauce? A pie?
In the words of TSA, “If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, then it’s considered a liquid.” If you’ve got a liquid larger than 3.4 ounces, whether that’s cranberry sauce or your homemade pear jam, it needs to go in your checked bag. Your apple pie, however, can go in the cabin. (Don’t risk the overhead bin; hold precious cargo on your lap.)
Wear a minimalist outfit
TSA recommends minimizing the items that you wear through airport security, such as bulky jewelry, wide-brimmed hats, scarves, hair accessories, and large belts that take time to remove and could require additional screening. Keep a packable tote bag on hand to cart your winter coat and other accessories through security.
Check the bins before you rush off
Another seemingly obvious one, but when the airport is crowded and travelers are harried, take the time to double-check the plastic bins after collecting your belongings and before running off to the gate. It’s not uncommon for travelers to leave behind any number of items, including jackets, laptops, wallets, IDs, and phones, TSA reported.
Get TSA PreCheck or Clear
If you don’t already have TSA PreCheck, Clear, or even both, this is the time to enroll. TSA Pre-Check takes three to five days to be approved and Clear takes only a few minutes, although the final step must be completed at a Clear location.
Once enrolled in TSA PreCheck, you’ll have access to expedited screening lanes at more than 200 U.S. airports, and you won’t need to remove your shoes, laptops, liquids, belts, or jackets when going through security. Clear is installed at more than 50 airports, and although the security procedure is the same as normal TSA, the lines are often much shorter. And at some airports, like Orlando, JFK, and LAX, you can even make a reservation for a security line time slot.
This article was originally published in 2018 and most recently updated on October 25, 2024, with current information. Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this story.
>>Next: How to Choose Between TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and Clear
