If travel forecasts by fare advocacy groupAAAare correct , Thanksgiving2024 might be the busiest yet . or so 80 million people will climb up into car , planes , or train this year to be with loved ones — an growth of 1.7 million over 2023 .
For those traveling by motorcar , congested traffic can definitely dampen some of that holiday spirit . Fortunately , the radical has some thought of the daylight and time when change of location is expect to be at its forged so travelers can plan forwards .
Citing the transportation data point firm INRIX , AAA recommends that drivers keep off pile into their car on the Tuesday ( 11/26 ) or Wednesday ( 11/27 ) afternoon prior to Thanksgiving . That ’s when a surplusage of holiday travelers will be do a break for it at the last minute . If you have to force on those Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , AAA says it ’s best to project your misstep so it ’s completed before 10 a.m. EST , when traffic is bear to be moderate .

Heading back , interstates and main road are potential to be pack in the former sunrise hours ( 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. ) on Friday morning , with roads easing up after 1 p.m. If you plan to depart Saturday , you ’ll be running into a raft of people doing the same from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. It ’s good to leave prior to 1 p.m.
The Monday after Thanksgiving might be the worst for travel , as holiday travelers get together commuters heading to work after the interruption . If you have to drive Monday , architectural plan on leaving very early and dispatch a trip before 8 a.m. Alternately , you may leave after 7 p.m.
The best time to trip is usually Thanksgiving daylight itself , as multitude tend to desire to have their thrust fill out before settle in for the 24-hour interval .
These recommendations can be complicate by weather , so you should discipline local snow or rain prognosis before making any firm plans . tumid urban center can also flirt host to dealings delays , so it ’s a good idea to take after alerting via apps or local news .
It ’s also wise to brush up on some common - sensation travelsafety . If you ’re going to be driving long distances , get your fomite serviced to learn fluids , tire , and your braking system . Keeping an emergency outfit for fixing flats or stay put lovesome is also advisable . You want to be with sept , not riding in a tow hand truck .