Traffic increases are expected over holiday weekends as travelers hit the road to visit family or go on vacation—depending on where you live and where you're headed, there are some times you may want to avoid driving to miss the worst congestion.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) just published its annual Thanksgiving forecast, which predicts that a record 71.7 million people will travel by car over the holiday. That's 1.3 million more than last year and higher than pre-pandemic records, possibly boosted by the lowest national average gas price since 2021.
Air travel is also expected to be busy this Thanksgiving, with a 2% increase in travelers over last year and an 11% bump over 2019.
The best and worst times to drive over Thanksgiving 2024
For 2024, AAA has expanded its traffic forecast to include the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving Day and the Monday after. Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are predicted to be the worst times to travel by car—but unlike in previous years, drivers can expect minimal impact on Thursday, making the holiday itself the best time to be on the road.
Monday, November 25
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Best time: before 11 a.m.
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Worst time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, November 26
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Best time: before 10 a.m.
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Worst time: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 27
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Best time: before 10 a.m.
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Worst time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, November 28
AAA predicts minimal traffic impact on Thanksgiving Day.
Friday, November 29
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Best time: after 1 p.m.
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Worst time: 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Saturday, November 30
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Best time: before 1 p.m.
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Worst time: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, December 1
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Best time: before 1 p.m.
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Worst time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, December 2
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Best time: before 8 a.m./after 7 p.m.
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Worst time: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Peak congestion in specific metro areas is expected to vary widely. For example, those traveling on the Long Island Expressway E from New York to the Hamptons on Tuesday afternoon could experience a 133% increase compared to typical traffic, while the worst traffic in the San Diego area—a 38% bump—is predicted to occur on I-15 S from Palm Springs on Saturday afternoon. Drivers in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. could see traffic more than double during peak times.
Finally, if you're renting a car, be prepared for long check-in lines on Wednesday and busy return desks on Monday and Tuesday after the holiday.
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