Seasonal ·
Thanksgiving Road Trip Guide: Timing, Traffic and Stops That Save the Day
Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, and most of that travel happens by car. The good news: with a bit of planning around timing and stops, you can skip the worst of it and arrive in a good mood.
Pick your departure time first
Traffic is heaviest when everybody leaves at the same time. The afternoon and evening before Thanksgiving are typically the most crowded, as people head out after work. A few ways around it:
- Leave early in the morning on your travel day, before the commuter and holiday traffic stacks up.
- Leave a day earlier if your schedule allows. Monday or Tuesday is usually calmer than Wednesday.
- Drive on Thanksgiving morning if the trip is short. Roads are often quieter while people are already at the table.
- Rethink Sunday. The Sunday after Thanksgiving is often a heavy return day. Coming home Saturday or Monday can save hours.
Plan stops for a crowded road
On a holiday drive, the famous stops right off the interstate are packed. Rest areas fill up, popular chains have long lines and gas stations near big cities can be a mess. Pick stops a few minutes off the highway in smaller towns. You will often get in and out faster than at the busy exit, even with the short detour.
Plan a real meal stop, too. Eating in the car to save time often backfires once traffic slows you down anyway.
Type where you're leaving from and where you're going — see your stops right now. Your first trip is free, no signup.
Things to check before Thanksgiving week
- Hours. Many restaurants and attractions close on Thanksgiving Day or keep short holiday hours. Check every planned stop for the day you will arrive.
- Weather. Late November can bring the first snow and ice in the mountains and the north. Watch the forecast for your whole route, not just your destination.
- Your car. Tires, wipers, fluids and a phone charger. A breakdown in holiday traffic is the worst kind.
- The food. If you are carrying a dish, pack it to ride flat and plan the drive so it is not sitting in a warm car for hours.
Long drive? Split it
If you are driving more than a long day, break the trip up with an overnight in a town you would enjoy, and book it early. Holiday-week hotels along popular routes fill up.
Let us plan it for you
Our Thanksgiving road trip page has more holiday planning ideas. Or just tell Three Good Stops where you are headed and when you are leaving, and we will pick the stops along the way, check that they are open and time them to your drive. Your first trip is free, no signup.