Coffee cups, suitcases and tired smiles are filling highways, airports, bus terminals and train stations across the country as Americans push through one of the busiest Thanksgiving travel periods in over a decade.
Drivers and flyers across the United States are confronting what the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said is slated to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel period in 15 years. The holiday follows a record-long government shutdown that put great stress on federal agencies and employees, including on airports nationwide due to a shortage of air traffic controllers and other salaried workers.
Airports from New York to Los Angeles, and Chicago to Atlanta, are bracing for extreme crowds.
“The Transportation Security Administration is expecting to screen more than 17.8 million people from Tuesday, Nov. 25, to Tuesday, Dec. 2, with more than 3 million just on Sunday, Nov. 30,” TSA spokesperson R. Carter Langston told Military.com. “We anticipate that Sunday will be the busiest as travelers return from the holiday and it is expected to be among TSA’s top 10 busiest days in history.”
AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz told Military.com that travelers should give themselves an ample amount of time to reach their destinations, whether that is done by vehicle or through the sky.
“Don’t be caught off guard by severe weather or unexpected delays and cancellations," Diaz said. "Be prepared, download your airline’s app, and if you’re driving, check your tire pressure and battery before leaving and pack an emergency kit. Always drive sober and slow down, move over to give people on the roadside room to safely do their work.”
Military.com reached out to the FAA for comment.
Airlines, Buses and Rental Cars Brace for Record Demand
Airlines are running near maximum capacity as Thanksgiving demand surges nationwide, with industry officials projecting one of the busiest holiday periods in years.
Some travelers are avoiding airports entirely.
“This Thanksgiving, we are seeing Americans increasingly turn to intercity buses as a convenient, reliable and affordable way to reach the people and places that matter most,” Flix North America spokesperson Karina Frayter told Military.com. “Our ticket sales for the holiday travel period are up more than 30% versus the same time last year.”
The busiest bus corridors include New York to Washington, New York to Boston, Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Dallas to Houston, and Chicago to Detroit.
Rental cars are also in short supply in several major markets. Hertz identified Wednesday, Nov. 26, as the busiest nationwide pickup day, with Orlando, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Newark among the most in-demand destinations.
Weather and Infrastructure Impact Already Stretched System
Shifting weather patterns could complicate an already tense travel week as rain and snow threats settle over the Great Lakes, Midwest and interior Northeast, along with heavy rain in parts of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, according to The Weather Channel.
“Lake-effect snow will impact the Great Lakes region while rain moves into the East,” a senior meteorologist told Military.com. “That could trigger flight delays and hazardous driving conditions at major population centers.”
Transportation agencies are responding to that risk by warning travelers about congestion, slowdowns and the potential for sudden disruption.
Concerns over nationwide transportation resilience have risen this year following major disruptions, equipment shortages and labor stress at key transit hubs.
Patience is Essential
Parents hitting the road this week are packing more snacks and more patience than anything else.
“You can’t drink this early, so it’s patience,” David, of Connecticut, told Military.com.
Others are letting someone else take the wheel.
“He was driving. I was sleeping. I’m a passenger princess,” Madison Amico said while stopping at a New Jersey travel plaza on her way south.
Not everyone is heading for a family reunion. Chris Butler chose a different destination this year.
“We decided to skip the whole family thing,” he told Military.com. “It’s nice to not be around them sometimes.”
Military Families Face Added Holiday Pressure
Military families traveling during Thanksgiving often face tighter schedules than civilians. Limited leave windows, duty rosters and assignments far from home force many service members and their families to drive long distances or rely on packed flights to make short visits count.
Rising travel costs and limited leave opportunities continue to make it difficult for many service members to reunite with loved ones during major holidays.
Trips commonly stretch from installations such as Fort Bragg, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Camp Pendleton and Fort Cavazos to hometowns that may be hundreds or thousands of miles away.
Military.com reached out to the Department of Defense, U.S. Transportation Command and multiple service branches for comment on the impact of the holiday travel surge on service members and their families.
