The AAA expects this to be the busiest Thanksgiving Holiday travel week since 2005, with more than 2.5 million people driving, flying, taking the train, or even a cruise ship.
With more than one million of us flying to grandma’s house, or to escape a family reunion, travelers who take to the sky should allow extra time to get to the airport and also extra time to account for long security lines.
INRIX expects delays getting to the nation’s busiest airports could be as long as an hour and a half.
Worst Travel Times to America’s Busiest Airports | |||
| Metro Area | Airport Route | Worst Time for Travel | Travel Time at Peak |
| Dallas | Downtown to DFW via TX-183 W | Monday, 5:00 – 7:00 PM | 30 min |
| San Francisco | Downtown to SFO via US-101 S | Monday, 5:00 – 7:00 PM | 24 min |
| Denver | Downtown to DIA via I-70 E and Pena Blvd | Monday, 5:30 – 7:30 PM | 55 min |
| New York | Downtown to JFK via Long Island Expressway East | Tuesday, 5:30 – 7:30 PM | 1 hr 19 min |
| Los Angeles | Downtown to LAX via I-110 S | Tuesday, 7:00 – 9:00 PM | 58 min |
| Atlanta | Downtown to ALT via I-75 S | Tuesday, 7:00 – 9:00 PM | 34 min |
| Charlotte | Downtown to CLT via US-74 W | Tuesday, 8:00 – 10:00 PM | 21 min |
| Las Vegas | Downtown to LAS via I-15 S | Wednesday, 8:00 – 9:00 AM | 27 min |
| Chicago | Downtown to ORD via Kennedy Expressway West | Wednesday, 1:30 – 3:30 PM | 1 hr 37 min |
| Seattle | Downtown to SEA via I-5 S | Wednesday, 8:00 – 10:00 PM | 41 min |
| Source: INRIX |
Best Times to Fly and Book Thanksgiving Flights
An analysis of AAA’s flight booking data from the last three years revealed that the Tuesday and Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving are usually the most popular air travel days and have the highest average price per roundtrip ticket.
Meanwhile, Thanksgiving Day consistently has the lowest average price per ticket and is the lightest travel day. Travelers looking to save money this holiday season can fly the morning of the holiday and arrive just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.
| Day | 3-Year Average Ticket Price | Expected Crowds |
| Monday (November 19, 2018) | $465 | Moderate |
| Tuesday (November 20, 2018) | $509 | Heavy |
| Wednesday (November 21, 2018) | $507 | Heavy |
| Thursday (November 22, 2018) | $446 | Light |
Most travelers booked their flights for Thanksgiving between September 23 and October 25, paying an average ticket price of $478 roundtrip. Procrastinating travelers who still need to book their flights may find cheaper airfares, paying an average ticket price of $459 between now and November 15. However, last-minute flight availability will likely be very limited.
Car Rental Costs Fall, Hotel Prices Mixed
Travelers can expect to save on car rentals this Thanksgiving holiday season. At $63, the average daily rate is 10 percent less than last year, according to AAA’s Leisure Travel Index.
Top 10 Thanksgiving Destinations
Many travelers will seek iconic American cities, theme parks and other warm-weather destinations this Thanksgiving. Orlando, New York City and Anaheim top this year’s top 10 holiday destinations based on AAA’s online and travel agency air and tour bookings. Punta Cana, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami are all gaining popularity as holiday spots compared with last year.
- Orlando, Florida
- New York City
- Anaheim, California
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Cancun, Mexico
- Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Washington, DC
- Miami, Florida
Download the AAA Mobile App Before Thanksgiving
Whether or not you are an AAA member, before heading out on a trip for Thanksgiving. Download the free AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android, and use the app to map a route, find the lowest gas prices, access exclusive member discounts, make travel arrangements, request AAA roadside assistance, find AAA Approved Auto Repair facilities and more. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile.
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