Surviving the Thanksgiving Gridlock: How to Make the Holiday Count

Thanksgiving is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. It’s a day when you get to travel and meet up with your friends and family who live a couple of miles away, and a day you simply get to enjoy being in their company.

There is, however, one thing that most people dread when Thanksgiving is right around the corner一the gridlock.

Background Check on the Thanksgiving Gridlock

According to AAA’s 2025 Thanksgiving travel forecast, about 81.8 million Americans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during the holiday period.

Like most holidays, commuter traffic mixes with the people trying to get out of town on Thanksgiving, which explains the influx of vehicles on highways.

Skip These Times on Thanksgiving Week

Nobody wants to spend Thanksgiving stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. AAA’s 2025 forecast, using data from traffic analytics firm INRIX, shows that the worst congestion happens before and after the holiday—not on Thanksgiving Day itself.

If you’re driving this year, here’s how the week typically looks nationwide:

• Tuesday, Nov. 25: Heaviest traffic from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Aim to be on the road before noon.
• Wednesday, Nov. 26: One of the busiest days. Worst congestion from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; leave before 11:00 a.m. if you can.
• Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov. 27): Minimal traffic impact expected overall compared with the rest of the week.
• Friday, Nov. 28: Avoid 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; mornings before 11:00 a.m. are best.
• Saturday, Nov. 29: Busiest from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; try to leave before 10:00 a.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 30: A major return-traffic day, with heavy congestion from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Hitting the road before 11:00 a.m. can save you a lot of time.
• Monday, Dec. 1: If you’re delaying your return, it’s better to drive after 8:00 p.m. to miss the worst of the backups.

In short: get an early start whenever possible, especially on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday, when afternoon and evening traffic are expected to be roughest.

Beware of Blackout Wednesday

Timing your trip is only half the battle—staying safe on the roads around Thanksgiving is just as important.

AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) warn that the Thanksgiving period is especially deadly for impaired driving. Based on federal crash data, drunk-driving deaths during Thanksgiving festivities from 2019 to 2023 account for roughly one-third of all traffic fatalities in that period—more than 860 lives lost.

The night before Thanksgiving—often called “Blackout Wednesday” or “Drinksgiving”—has become one of the biggest bar nights of the year, with a noticeable spike in binge drinking and alcohol-related crashes.

If you’re going out on Thanksgiving Eve:

• Plan a sober ride (designated driver, rideshare, taxi, or public transit).
• Never get in a car with anyone who’s been drinking.
• If you’re hosting, cut off alcohol early and encourage guests to arrange safe rides home.

That way, you’re not just avoiding traffic—you’re also avoiding one of the most dangerous nights to be on the road all year.

Skip These Areas on Thanksgiving Week

Heavy traffic isn’t limited to downtown streets. AAA and traffic-analytics firm INRIX expect some of the worst Thanksgiving backups on major corridors between cities, especially in the late afternoon and early evening on the days before and after the holiday.

If your route passes through any of the metro areas below, expect heavier-than-normal congestion and consider traveling outside the listed peak periods:

• Atlanta: Atlanta to Savannah via I-16 East, heaviest on Sunday around mid-afternoon (about 3:30 p.m.).
• Boston: Boston to Hyannis via Pilgrims Highway South, with peak traffic on Thanksgiving morning (around 11:45 a.m.).
• Chicago: Indianapolis to Chicago via I-65 North, heaviest on Sunday mid-afternoon (around 3:45 p.m.).
• Denver: Pueblo to Denver via I-25 North, with peak congestion on Tuesday early evening (around 5:30 p.m.).
• Detroit: Kalamazoo to Detroit via I-94 East, busiest on Tuesday late afternoon (around 4:30 p.m.).
• Houston: Galveston to Houston via I-45 North, with the worst backups on Tuesday early evening (around 5:30 p.m.).
• Los Angeles: Los Angeles to Bakersfield via I-5 North, very heavy traffic on Wednesday night (around 7:45 p.m.), with travel times more than double typical conditions.
• Minneapolis: Eau Claire to Minneapolis via I-94 West, peaking Sunday late afternoon (around 4:45 p.m.).
• New York City: New York City to the Hamptons via the Long Island Expressway East, worst congestion on Tuesday late afternoon (around 4:30 p.m.), with travel times well over double the norm.
• Philadelphia / Baltimore / Washington, D.C.: Philadelphia to Baltimore/Washington, D.C. via I-95 South, busiest on Sunday mid-afternoon (around 2:15 p.m.).
• Portland (OR): Portland to Eugene via I-5 South, with peak congestion on Friday afternoon (around 4:00 p.m.).
• San Diego: San Diego to Palm Springs via I-15 North, heaviest on Wednesday late afternoon (around 5:00 p.m.).
• San Francisco Bay Area: San Francisco to Santa Rosa via US-101 North, with major delays Tuesday evening (around 7:15 p.m.).
• Seattle: Seattle to Bellingham via I-5 North, peaking Tuesday evening (around 6:45 p.m.).
• Tampa / Orlando: Tampa to Orlando via I-4 East, worst backups on Friday mid-afternoon (around 2:45 p.m.).
• Washington, D.C.: Washington, D.C. to Baltimore via the Baltimore–Washington Parkway North, very heavy congestion Tuesday late afternoon (around 4:30 p.m.).

If your Thanksgiving trip touches any of these corridors, the safest move is to leave earlier in the day or shift your travel to a different date to avoid the heaviest delays.

Safety Tips for the Thanksgiving Day Drive

As with any other driving day, you should always have safety as your main priority apart from getting to your destination on time.

Here are a couple of safety tips to keep in mind before going on a Thanksgiving Day drive.

Preparation is Key

It’s bad enough that you’re stuck in traffic for the holiday, but to have your car broken down in the middle of the road during one of the busiest days of the year will simply be too much for anyone.

So before pulling your car out of the driveway, make sure that you check everything, from tire pressure and wiper fluid to spare tires and basic tools.

Be Patient

Heavy traffic tends to bring out the inner road rage in most drivers, and you can’t really blame them.

But no matter how dragging the traffic flow is, try your best to avoid tailgating and always keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

Stay Alert

Aside from drunk driving, drowsy driving is another common cause of vehicular accidents.

Although it might sound like common sense to pull over when you’re getting sleepy behind the wheel, some tend to ignore this notion and keep driving after working all day.

Stubbornness can often lead to accidents. If you feel your eyelids getting heavy while driving, it’s best to find the nearest rest stop and take a nap before hitting the road again.

Also, make sure to put your phone down, and focus all your attention on the road. If you need to reply to a message or answer an important call, it’s best to pull over before anything else.

Thanksgiving Day Essentials: Travel Edition

A freshly cooked turkey is a must during Thanksgiving Day, but save that for the dining table. Here are some essentials you might want to keep in your car when traveling during the holiday.

Phone Mount

If you’re relying on apps like Waze to find the best route while traveling, a phone mount will come in handy as you navigate the map. This will keep you from tapping on your phone while you drive, which could easily lead to an accident if you’re not careful enough.

Water

You’ll never know how long you’ll be stuck on the road, so it’s best to keep a bottle of water in your car in case you get thirsty. It’s also a good idea to keep a few snacks around to avoid getting hungry.

Chargers

Chargers are always essential for every road trip 一 no matter how short the travel time is. When driving during Thanksgiving Day, a fully charged phone will help you keep in touch with your loved ones while you’re on the road.

First Aid Kit

Always keep a first aid kit in your trunk. This will help you stay on top of treating minor injuries after accidents. Some first-aid kit essentials you might need are band-aids, gauze, ice packs, and personal medicine, among others.

Portable Snow Shovel

Snow-filled driveways can be a hassle to deal with. Fortunately, you can avoid getting caught up in obstructed roads with a portable snow shovel that can fit in your car.

It’s also advisable to bring a roadside emergency kit that contains road flares, flashlights, jumper cables, and more.