Thanksgiving travel: A guide to planning your trip

From turkey and football to pumpkin pie and shared time with loved ones, Thanksgiving can be a wonderful time of year. But holiday travel during this time can also be one of the busiest. So a little travel prep can make your trip go a lot more smoothly. 

What you’ll learn:

• Thanksgiving holiday travel can be busy and stressful. But planning ahead can help.

• The Sunday after Thanksgiving tends to be the busiest airport travel day of the year, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

• Traveling internationally around Thanksgiving could mean lower prices and reduced crowds at your destination. 

• A travel booking site like Capital One Travel could help you save money, optimize rewards and access helpful tools.

Whether you’re flying a week or a day before Thanksgiving, these tips might help:

• Book tickets ASAP. According to travel booking site Hopper, airfare prices are expected to increase by as much as 54% in the three weeks before Thanksgiving. So booking early could help you save. 

• Stay flexible on travel dates. If saving money on airfare is your priority, then being open to different travel dates could help. For example, the cheapest days to fly are usually on the holidays themselves. And the busiest days to fly, like the Sunday after Thanksgiving, are usually the most expensive.

• Review TSA packing requirements. It helps to be aware of items you should leave in your carry-on luggage—or items you can’t travel with at all. Otherwise, a TSA bag check might slow you down.

• Pack early. Having your bags packed well ahead of time might help you avoid rushing at the last minute and leaving later than you intended.

• Stay updated on your flight. Keeping an eye on your flight info can help you stay aware of any updates to departure times or gate changes.

• Arrive at the airport early. This can give you extra time in case of any unexpected delays or flight changes.

• Consider an expedited security clearance program. Explore using a program like Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® to help make travel to and from airports a little easier.

Out of around 55 million total Thanksgiving travelers each year, close to 50 million—around 90%—go by car. 

If you’re driving this Thanksgiving, these tips from the American Red Cross could help:

• Check your vehicle ahead of time. If you notice any maintenance tasks your car may need, try to get these done well before your trip. If you run into trouble on the road, find a spot to pullover as far away from traffic as possible.

• Consider driving at off-peak times. Driving when there are fewer people on the road could help you avoid traffic and make driving less stressful. Avoiding rush hour traffic, around 7-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., could help. 

• Get the most out of your rental. If you’re planning to rent a vehicle, using your credit card to rent a car could help you access insurance benefits and additional rewards. 

• Watch the weather forecast. If you notice any dangerous weather before or during your drive, pull over for safety or seek shelter off the road.

• Buckle up and avoid distractions. Distracted driving includes anything that takes your attention off driving, like messing with the radio, eating or using your phone. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”

Whether you’re planning a hotel getaway or you just need to find accommodations near family or friends during Thanksgiving, these tips might be useful:

• Book early. Booking sooner could provide extra time to compare options and help find the price and location that works for you. 

• Get help. A travel booking site like Capital One Travel could help you find lots of options to choose from. And eligible cardholders can earn elevated rewards. 

• Bundle bookings. Booking a hotel, a rental car and flights together could save you money. And “around the holidays, you’ll want to find bundle deals early,” according to Travel & Leisure.

These frequently asked questions might help if you’re still looking for answers about Thanksgiving travel:

Thanksgiving is a treasured American holiday, but it doesn’t come without busy travel days for many. Leaving during off-peak times can help you beat traffic if you’re going by car. And if you’re traveling by plane, be sure to book early and get to the airport well ahead of time.

It’s also worth thinking about how to make the most of bookings and travel expenses. You can use a Capital One travel credit card to earn unlimited miles on hotels, car rentals, flights and more.