Home / Lifestyle / Thanksgiving Travel Alert: Avoid These Peak Traffic Times
Thanksgiving Travel Alert: Avoid These Peak Traffic Times
23 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Nearly 82 million Americans will travel over 50 miles for Thanksgiving.
- Wednesday before Thanksgiving sees 14% heavier traffic, peaking 1-3 PM.
- Avoid driving Thanksgiving Day between 12 PM and 3 PM for lighter roads.
As Thanksgiving approaches, AAA anticipates a record 82 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home. To help travelers avoid significant delays, data from Google Maps highlights optimal and congested travel times.
Driving on Wednesday before Thanksgiving is particularly busy, with traffic increasing by 14% between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and peaking from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. It is advisable to avoid these hours. Thanksgiving Day itself experiences peak congestion between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., impacting roads and even store aisles.
For the return journey, drivers should be aware that traffic remains heavy from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Travelers opting for flights should also note that weekends are typically more expensive and crowded. Black Friday shoppers should plan their outings for before noon or after 3 p.m. to bypass traffic jams.
