A record number of Americans are expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year, according to AAA. The organization predicts that 81.8 million people will travel during the holiday period from Tuesday, Nov. 25, to Monday, Dec. 1. This marks an increase of 1.6 million travelers compared to last year. Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 27, and comes shortly after a 43-day government shutdown that led to significant flight cancellations. However, airlines do not anticipate any lingering effects from the shutdown during the holiday travel period.

Air travel is expected to see a significant uptick, with AAA forecasting that 6 million people will fly domestically over Thanksgiving, a 2% increase from 2024. Sunday, Nov. 30, is projected to be the busiest day for air travel, with 3,280,652 domestic seats available, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Despite this, flight bookings from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30 are down 3.3% compared to last year, likely due to the uncertainty caused by the government shutdown.

American Airlines plans to operate over 80,000 flights during the Thanksgiving period, with its busiest day expected to be Sunday, Nov. 30. United Airlines anticipates its highest number of Thanksgiving travelers ever this year, with peak travel days also expected on Sunday, Nov. 30, Saturday, Nov. 29, and Monday, Dec. 1. The busiest airports in the U.S. are expected to include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and Denver International Airport.

On the road, AAA estimates that at least 73 million people, nearly 90% of Thanksgiving travelers, will travel by car. Renting a car this Thanksgiving is projected to be 15% cheaper than last year. The busiest days for road travel are expected to be Tuesday, Nov. 25; Wednesday, Nov. 26; and Sunday, Nov. 30.

For those planning to drive, the best times to hit the road before Thanksgiving are before noon on Tuesday, Nov. 25, or before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Traffic is expected to be lighter on Thanksgiving Day itself. When returning home, the optimal driving times are before 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28; before 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29; before 11 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30; or after 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, according to analytics company INRIX.

Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead and consider these tips to navigate the busy holiday travel season effectively.