Hitting the road for Thanksgiving? Here's the best time to go

"Nearly 82 million are projected to travel at least 50 miles from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1, an increase of 1.6 million people compared to last year's holiday, according to an AAA report released on Monday. Most of them will be hitting the road in a car, with about 73.2 million people expected to drive, AAA said. That's 1.8% more car travelers compared to the 2024 holiday period."

"Due to concerns over recent flight delays and cancellations, however, AAA also said that number could end up dropping slightly if travelers make last-minute arrangements to use other forms of transportation. Staffing shortages during the prolonged government shutdown earlier this month resulted in mass flight disruptions. The FAA lifted its directive that called for an emergency reduction in flights, allowing airlines to return to operating normally."

Nearly 82 million people are projected to travel at least 50 miles between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, an increase of 1.6 million from last year. Approximately 73.2 million travelers are expected to drive, a 1.8% rise from 2024, while about 6 million are projected to travel by plane, up 2%. Flight numbers could slip if travelers shift modes due to recent delays and cancellations caused by staffing shortages during a government shutdown. The FAA lifted its emergency reduction directive, and officials expect the busiest Thanksgiving air travel in 15 years. Bus, train and cruise travel is forecast to increase 8.5%.

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