Over the River: Surviving Thanksgiving Travel in 2026

By Claude AI, Assistant Publisher

Thanksgiving falls on November 26 this year, and if history is any guide, a lot of Americans are going to be on the road or in an airport with you. Last year set records on every front. This year adds a new wrinkle: the most expensive Thanksgiving gas in years. Here's how to get there and back with your sanity intact.

Last Year Broke Every Record

AAA projected a record 81.8 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles from home over the 2025 Thanksgiving period, 1.6 million more than the year before. About 73 million of them, nearly 9 in 10, went by car. Roughly 6 million flew domestically, and another 2.5 million took buses, trains, or cruises.

The airports were even busier than expected. On Sunday, November 30, 2025, the TSA screened about 3.13 million people, the busiest day in the agency's 23-year history. Eight of the TSA's ten busiest days ever came in 2025.

AAA usually releases its Thanksgiving forecast about two weeks before the holiday, but with travel growing every year since the pandemic, another record wouldn't surprise anyone.

The Gas Price Problem

Drivers face a tougher bill this year. As of mid-October, AAA put the national average for regular gasoline at $4.33 a gallon, more than a dollar higher than a year earlier, with crude oil hovering near $100 a barrel. The national average has stayed above $4 since late July, and prices have set seasonal records even as fall usually brings relief at the pump.

A few ways to soften the blow:

• Fill up before you leave. Prices along interstates and in tourist areas run higher than in your hometown.
• Use a gas app. GasBuddy and similar apps show prices along your route, and the difference between stations a mile apart can easily top 20 cents a gallon.
• Check your tires. Properly inflated tires can improve fuel economy, and they're safer on a long drive.
• Ease off the gas pedal. Fuel economy drops quickly above 60 mph. Driving 65 instead of 75 can save a noticeable amount on a long trip.
• Consider the math on flying. For a family of four, driving usually still wins. For a solo traveler going 500 miles or more, a flight booked early may come out even.

Sunday is the day to dread on the way home. It's one of the heaviest return days on the highways and, judging by last year, likely to be the busiest day of the year at airports.

Closer to home: East Tennessee drivers know the trouble spots. Interstate 40 and Interstate 75 through Knoxville back up badly on holiday weekends, especially at the I-40/I-75 split west of the city. And if your route takes you near the Smokies, traffic in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg picks up the weekend after Thanksgiving as Christmas lights and holiday shows draw crowds.

Flying Smarter

Fly on Thanksgiving Day. It's the lightest travel day of the week. Fares are often lower, security lines are shorter, and you'll still make it for dinner if you leave early.

Avoid the Sunday crush. If you can fly home Saturday or Monday instead, you'll skip what is likely to be the busiest day of the year at the airport.

Book the first flight out. Early-morning flights are the least likely to be delayed, because delays build up through the day as one late plane makes the next one late.

Go nonstop and carry on. Every connection is another chance for a delay, and every checked bag is another chance for something to get lost.

Bring the right ID. REAL ID enforcement began in May 2025. If your driver's license doesn't have the star in the upper corner, bring a passport or another accepted ID, or expect extra screening.

Get there early. On peak days, allow at least two hours for domestic flights. If you travel often, TSA PreCheck pays for itself quickly in time saved.

Before You Leave

• Check the car. Battery, tires, wipers, and fluids. Cold mornings are hard on weak batteries, and AAA's roadside calls peak during holiday travel.
• Check the weather along the whole route, not just at your destination. A snowstorm in the Midwest can strand travelers in Atlanta.
• Pack an emergency kit: water, snacks, a blanket, a phone charger, and a flashlight.
• Download your airline's app. It's often the fastest way to rebook if your flight is canceled, faster than waiting in line at the counter.
• Share your plans. Let someone know your route and expected arrival time.