Best Days to Drive for Thanksgiving to Avoid Traffic
Leave early Tuesday or Wednesday, use Thursday for short trips, and return before noon or late Monday evening.
Drive on Thanksgiving Day itself for the lightest traffic, and plan return trips for early morning or after 8 p.m. Monday. If you must leave Tuesday, Nov.
25 or Wednesday, Nov. 26, leave before noon Tuesday and before 11 a.m. Wednesday.
AAA projected 81.8 million Americans would travel 50 or more miles from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, 2025, with about 73.2 million driving, according to AAA's Thanksgiving travel forecast.
INRIX, a transportation data firm that analyzes road congestion, supplied the timing behind those travel windows.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 05, 2026.
What time should you leave Tuesday or Wednesday?
INRIX found Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons were the most congested outbound periods in major metros. It advised outbound drivers to leave before noon Tuesday and avoid noon to 9 p.m., according to NPR via WAMC in its Thanksgiving timing report. The same guidance set Wednesday departure before 11 a.m., avoiding 11 a.m.
to 8 p.m. Morning starts give you a buffer before delays build. Evening departures run into the peak.
For those two days, keep the plan simple:
- Finish packing and fuel the night before.
- Leave early enough to clear nearby metro traffic before noon.
- Check weather and local road alerts before choosing an alternate route.
Why is Thanksgiving Day quieter?
Thanksgiving Day itself was forecast to have minimal road-traffic impact, making it the lowest-congestion driving day of the holiday period, according to NPR via WAMC in its Thanksgiving timing report. Most outbound trips have already ended by then. Return travel has not yet started.
That pattern helps drivers with flexible schedules or shorter trips. A morning drive Thursday can mean steadier speeds. Holiday meals still set your arrival deadline, so plan backward from that time.
When should you drive home?
INRIX advised return drivers to start before noon Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday, Nov. 30 worst roughly 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to INRIX guidance summarized by CarPro in its AAA forecast summary.
Monday, Dec. 1 was calmer after 8 p.m., following a noon to 8 p.m. peak.
Sunday needs the most caution because heavy return traffic lasts most of the day. Saturday before noon is easier than Sunday afternoon. If Monday works, use the morning or wait until evening.
Where do these times matter most?
AAA said the INRIX estimates focus on heavily traveled metro routes and corridors. Actual delays vary by city, route and weather. A local errand may see little change while an interstate near a large city backs up.
Build flexibility because flight problems can push more cars onto roads. AAA noted about 6 million expected flyers could drive instead during a very busy air period, according to NPR via WAMC. Leave earlier in the advised window when storms or cancellations affect your region.