Traveling for Thanksgiving in Texas? When you should hit the road to avoid traffic, AAA says

Planning to travel in or across Texas during the Thanksgiving holiday? Be prepared for record-breaking crowds.

According to AAA, more Americans are on the move this holiday, with nearly 80 million people traveling more than 50 miles.

That’s an increase of 1.7 million travelers compared to 2023, the automobile association said, exceeding even pre-coronavirus pandemic levels

“Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel, said in a Monday, Nov. 18, news release.

“Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that,” Barber said. “AAA continues to see travel demand soar post-pandemic with our members looking for new adventures and memorable vacations.”

If you’re planning to travel this upcoming Thanksgiving, here are the best — and worst — times to head out:

How many Texans will travel for Thanksgiving?

Amid the holiday travel surge, 5.7 million Texas residents are expected to join the nationwide rush, a 1.3% increase over last year’s record number of travelers, according to AAA

Of those, approximately 315,000 Texans will travel by plane, while 5.3 million will hit the road in a car.

Another 129,000 Texans are expected to travel by alternative means, including buses, trains and cruises, AAA said.

“Travel volumes for major holidays this year have consistently surpassed pre-pandemic levels, and the Thanksgiving holiday will be no exception,” said AAA Texas general manager Galen Grillo in a news release. “This trend highlights growing consumer confidence to travel as families and friends jump on the opportunity to reconnect, whether through shared vacations or trips to visit loved ones.”

What are the busiest days to travel on Thanksgiving?

According to the transportation analytics firm INRIX, Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 1 to 7 p.m. will be the busiest day of the week for car travel, with an average 38% increase in travel time compared to typical traffic volume.

“The worst traffic congestion in Texas is expected to be in the afternoon through the evening on Monday, Dec. 2, when the traffic volumes are expected to be 30% higher. All major highways are likely to be congested on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons before Thanksgiving, so drivers should expect longer travel times during those periods and plan to leave early,” AAA said.