Thanksgiving travel: Here’s when AAA says Texas highways will be busiest
There’s just no way to avoid busy roads during the holidays.
Whether it’s traffic into an airport or traffic on Interstate 35, many Texans are heading home to spend Thanksgiving with their loved ones.
Roadside assistance organization AAA released its Thanksgiving travel forecast this week, and an estimated 5.8 million Texans will venture out on the roads from Nov. 25 until Dec. 1 — and 90% of those travelers will be road tripping.
Though every year is bound to be busy, this year is predicted to be the busiest it has been since Thanksgiving 2019, before the pandemic, when 5.6 million Texans traveled.
So here’s what to expect if you’re road tripping in Texas. Have a safe holiday weekend!
Busiest travel days during Thanksgiving weekend on the highway
AAA predicts 5.3 million Texans will travel by car from Nov. 25 until Dec. 1. Tuesday, Nov. 25, and Wednesday, Nov. 26, are expected to be the busiest afternoons, while Sunday, Nov. 30, will also hold heavy return traffic.
According to the nationwide forecast, these are the best and worst times to drive over the travel period:
Wednesday, Nov. 26
- Best: Before 11 a.m.
- Worst: Between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 27
- Minimal traffic expected.
Friday, Nov. 28
- Best: Before 11 a.m.
- Worst: Between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29
- Best: Before 10 a.m.
- Worst: From 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30
- Best: Before 11 a.m.
- Worst: Between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 1
- Best: After 8 p.m.
- Worst: Between noon and 8 p.m.
This story was originally published November 26, 2025 at 12:18 PM.