Know before you go: traveling for Thanksgiving holiday

It’s almost time to carve the turkey and set out the placemats. This also means a spike in travel, with approximately 5.7 million Texans predicted to travel 50 miles or more away from home during the Thanksgiving travel period, according to AAA.

Travel volume

Thanksgiving travel volume for Texans is up 1.3% this year compared to 2023. AAA defines the Thanksgiving travel period as Tuesday, Nov. 26 to Monday, Dec. 2.

Approximately 5.3 million Texans will travel by car and 315,000 will travel by plane. There’s a significant uptick this year in Texans who will travel by boat, bus or train, which is expected to be 129,000 — an 8.1% increase from 2023.

Compared to pre-pandemic travel numbers, 2.4% more Texans will travel for Thanksgiving this year than in 2019.

Nationally, Thanksgiving travel this year is projected to be the busiest on record. Approximately 79.86 million travelers are expected compared to 78.1 million in 2023 and 77.8 million in 2019.

“Travel volumes for major holidays this year have consistently surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and the Thanksgiving holiday will be no exception,” said AAA Texas Vice President and general manager Galen Grillo. “This trend highlights growing consumer confidence to travel as families and friends jump on the opportunity to reconnect, whether through shared vacations or trips to visit loved ones.”

Popular destinations

Top travel destinations for Texans includes metros like San Antonio, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as Austin and the Hill Country.

When it comes to cruises, the Caribbean remains the most popular destination for Texans, while Orlando is the top domestic air travel destination. Rome, Italy, is the most popular international air travel destination.

Preparing for busy roads

When planning a holiday road trip, keep in mind when roads will be more congested. According to data from INRIX, Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. will be the busiest time to travel by car.

In Texas, traffic is expected to be most congested during the afternoon and evening of Monday, Nov. 2 on I-45 northbound between Galveston and Houston. I-35 and other major highways will be busier on the Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving. Travelers should plan to leave early on those days to avoid backups.

Before you go

Those traveling by car should ensure their vehicle is up to date on routine maintenance like oil changes and tire care. AAA predicts it will respond to 29,400 calls from those traveling on Texas roads during the Thanksgiving travel period.

Gas prices

Average gas prices for Texans this holiday are at their lowest rate since 2020. According to AAA, the national average as of Monday, Nov. 18 is $3.07 per gallon, while the average in Texas is $2.65.