Record Thanksgiving Travel Expected: Here Are The Worst Times To Hit The Road In IL

Annually, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday of the year, and this year is no different. Expect records to be broken, with nearly 82 million traveling at least 50 miles from home between Nov 26 to Dec. 2, according to AAA.

The domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to 2024, which sets a new overall record. It will mark the fifth straight year to see an increase in travelers compared to the prior year, following a major dip in 2020 due to the pandemic.

"Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones," said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. "People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends."

AAA, a federation of motor clubs across North America, projects around 73 million people plan to drive. That number is up 1.3 million compared to last Thanksgiving. Given the recent trend of canceled flights, that number may be even higher.

Gas prices are about the same this Thanksgiving season compared to 2024, when the national average for regular gas was $3.06 a gallon. As of Thursday, Illinois motorists were paying an average of $3.29 for a gallon of regular gas, according to AAA.

Blustery, Cold Thanksgiving

The AccuWeather forecast for Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 27 calls for "sunny to partly cloudy" weather, with a high of 40 degrees. As for any precipitation, the forecaster called for a 25 percent chance.

"A powerful cold front will sweep across the area Tuesday night, with strong westerly winds (gusts to ~45 mph) and temps in the 30s for the busy travel day on Wednesday," the weather service said.

Thanksgiving won't be as windy as Wednesday, but still "blustery and cold."

RELATED: Cold, Blustery Thanksgiving, Snow On The Way This Weekend For Chicago Area

When To Avoid Chicago Area

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to be the most congested periods before Thanksgiving Day. Travelers returning home on Sunday should expect heavy traffic most of the day. To avoid the worst backups, drivers should travel in the morning, though construction, crashes, or severe weather could impact travel times.

According to the INRIX analysis, Illinois travelers should avoid I-65 N (Indianapolis to Chicago) at 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, to avoid delays of 4 hours, 8 minutes. Traffic is expected to be about 57 percent higher than normal.

The best and worst times to travel over the holiday period are (all times local):

• Tuesday, Nov. 25: 12 to 9 p.m., worst travel time; before 11 noon best travel time
• Wednesday, Nov. 26: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., worst travel time; before 11 a.m., best travel time
• Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27 Minimal traffic impact expected
• Friday, Nov 28: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., worst travel time; after 11 a.m. best travel time
• Saturday, Nov. 29: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., worst travel time; before 10 a.m., best travel time
• Sunday, Nov. 30: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., worst travel time; before 11 a.m., best travel time
• Monday, Dec. 1: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., worst travel time; before 8 a.m. after 8 p.m., best travel times

According to AAA, 6 million U.S. travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday period, which marks a 2 percent increase compared to 2024. That figure could end up being slightly lower as some air travelers make other plans following recent flight cancellations. The number of Thanksgiving air travelers over the past several years – except for 2020 – has been between 5 and 6 million.

Travel delays should be expected in the top 10 Thanksgiving destinations, AAA said. They are Orlando, Florida; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Miami; Anaheim/Los Angeles; Tampa, Florida; New York City; San Francisco; Honolulu; Las Vegas; and Atlanta.

• Related: No ‘Disrespectful Dress,’ Other Things To Know About Thanksgiving Travel