Thanksgiving isn’t just about eating stuffing–it’s about stuffing planes, trains, and highways with more people than you could ever imagine! This year’s holiday travel rush is officially breaking records, with nearly 82 million Americans packing their bags, loading up the car, or sprinting through airport terminals to make it home for the long weekend.
According to a report from trusted roadside service provider AAA, a record-breaking 81.8 million travelers are expected to journey at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period, from Tuesday, November 25 to Monday, December 1.
Thanksgiving is now the single busiest holiday for travel, outranking Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel, stated:
Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones. People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends.
Thanksgiving Travelers by Mode of Transportation
From packed highways to busy airports and popular cruise itineraries, the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday is shaping up to be a hectic one. Here’s how travelers are getting around:
🚗 By Car
AAA projects at least 73 million people will travel by car—nearly 90% of all Thanksgiving travelers and about 1.3 million more drivers than last year. That number could climb even higher as some travelers swap flights for road trips following recent flight cuts.
To help keep things moving smoothly, AAA suggests:
- Avoid picking up rental cars on Wednesday, which is expected to be the busiest pick-up day
- Fill up your tank the night before and check your battery and tire pressure
- Plan ahead to avoid impaired driving–use a rideshare, designate a sober driver, or take public transit so everyone gets home safely
✈️ By Air
Roughly 6 million U.S. travelers are expected to fly domestically over the Thanksgiving holiday period, a 2% increase compared to 2024. That figure may shift slightly as some would-be flyers change plans in response to cancellations and schedule changes.
AAA recommends adjusting your itinerary, if possible:
- Consider shortening or extending your trip to avoid peak flying days
- Sunday and Monday are expected to be the busiest return days (more on this here)
🚂 By Other Modes
Travel by bus, train, and cruise is also on the rise, with these modes expected to see an 8.5% increase to nearly 2.5 million travelers. Buses and trains, in particular, could see an uptick in last-minute bookings this year as people look for alternatives to flying.
Cruising continues its post-pandemic boom: AAA projects 20.7 million American cruise passengers in 2025 and expects that number to grow to 21.7 million U.S. ocean cruise travelers in 2026. Thanksgiving cruises–especially to the Caribbean–remain especially popular since the weather is mild, the trip is paid upfront, and there’s something for every generation onboard.
Top Thanksgiving Destinations
Based on AAA booking data for the Thanksgiving period, these are the most popular places Americans are heading this year. Florida dominates the domestic list thanks to its theme parks and cruise ports, while the international list mixes classic European city breaks with warm-weather escapes.
Top Domestic Thanksgiving Destinations
1. Orlando, FL
2. Fort Lauderdale, FL
3. Miami, FL
4. Anaheim/Los Angeles, CA
5. Tampa, FL
6. New York, NY
7. San Francisco, CA
8. Honolulu, HI
9. Las Vegas, NV
10. Atlanta, GA
Top International Thanksgiving Destinations
1. Paris, France
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands
3. Vienna, Austria
4. Cancun, Mexico
5. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
6. Basel, Switzerland
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Barcelona, Spain
9. Budapest, Hungary
10. Oranjestad, Aruba
Whether you’re driving out of NYC to visit family in the suburbs, catching a flight to Florida sun, or escaping on an international getaway, one thing’s clear: Thanksgiving 2025 is going to be one for the travel record books!