4 things Texans traveling for Thanksgiving should know, including best times to drive or fly

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Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP

Four million Texans will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Thanksgiving, projects AAA Texas.

That’s a 1% increase from last year and about 95% of pre-pandemic levels. Nationally, AAA estimates 54.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this Thanksgiving, which is a 2% increase over 2021 and 98% of pre-pandemic volumes.

“There are going to be a lot of people traveling that haven’t traveled in a couple of years. It is predicted to be a very busy Thanksgiving, and of course it’ll be the busiest travel week of the year,” says Catherine Banks, vice president of Dallas-based travel agency Legacy Travel. “It’s been a very challenging last few months as far as flights running on time, and I don’t imagine there’s a reason in the world it will be any better over Thanksgiving week, so I very much predict that it could be a challenging time to travel.”

It’s projected to be the third busiest year for Thanksgiving travel in the U.S. since AAA started tracking in 2000, and sixth busiest for Texas.

“Travel for Thanksgiving continues to rebound to nearly pre-pandemic levels as families and friends are eager to enjoy time together during the holiday weekend,” said Galen Grillo, AAA Texas vice president and general manager, in the Thanksgiving travel forecast released Tuesday.

1. Buses, trains and cruises making comeback

An estimated 3.6 million Texans will travel by car between Nov. 23 and 27, which is 4% less than in 2019. Another 238,000 will travel by airplane, up 6% from 2021 but still 13% lower than 2019. And 77,000 Texans will travel by bus, train or cruise, a whopping 22% more than last year and down 13% from 2019.

“With travel restrictions lifted and more people comfortable taking public transportation again, it’s no surprise buses, trains and cruises are coming back in a big way,” said AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster.

Across the country, 48.7 million Americans will travel by car on Thanksgiving weekend, 3% less than in 2019. Another 4.51 million will fly to their destinations, up 8% over 2021 and only 1% lower than 2019. And 1.43 million will go out of town by bus, train or cruise ship, 24% more than last year and 4% below 2019.

2. Crowding anticipated at airports

“Regardless of the mode of transportation you have chosen, expect crowds during your trip and at your destination. If your schedule is flexible, consider off-peak travel times during the holiday rush,” Armbruster says.

AAA Texas travel advisors suggest reserving a parking spot ahead of time and arriving two hours early. Also, anticipate long TSA lines. If possible, avoid checking a bag to allow for more flexibility if flights are delayed or you need to reschedule. Check in early and download the airline app to get alerts about flight delays and cancellations, Armbruster suggests. Remember to pack snacks, medications, comfortable shoes and a change of clothes in your carry-on.

Booking your Thanksgiving flight last-minute? With fewer flights and more travelers, expect to pay more.

“If you are planning to fly somewhere over Thanksgiving weekend and you have not booked it yet, you either need to be extremely flexible or extremely generous,” Banks said. “It’s always a trick of doing what other people don’t want to do.”

The days you should avoid flying are Wednesday and Sunday, she cautions, when most people depart and return home. Instead, fly earlier in the week and stay until midweek the next week, Banks recommends.

3. Texans booking outdoor adventures

These are the top five Thanksgiving destinations for Texans, according to AAA Texas:

  1. Texas Hill Country

  2. Santa Fe, New Mexico

  3. Colorado ski areas

  4. Gulf Coast beaches

  5. North Carolina coast

“What tends to be the most popular over the holidays, of course there’s always skiing, but it would be beach destinations primarily,” Banks says. “If you were to broaden your thinking a little bit, then you can imagine going to say Europe. You can get great airfares to Europe right now and I think it’s a great time to go.”

The top Thanksgiving getaways for Americans are:

  1. Orlando, Florida

  2. Anaheim, California

  3. Las Vegas, Nevada

  4. New York, New York

  5. Atlanta, Georgia

4. Severe congestion for drivers

Despite gas prices being higher than last year, most Texans will travel by car this Thanksgiving weekend. But severe congestion in several U.S. metro areas is expected, with some drivers experiencing more than double normal delays. To avoid the most hectic times, travel early in the morning on Wednesday or before 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and avoid drives between 4 and 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. will be the busiest, while the best times to drive will be before 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. As for Thanksgiving, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be the worst period to travel by car, while the best times for a Thanksgiving road trip will be before 11 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Travel before 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m. on Friday, and before 2 or after 8 p.m. on Saturday.

“Plan ahead, consider working with a trusted travel advisor and remember proper vehicle maintenance to help prevent breakdowns,” Grillo says.

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