Thanksgiving 2025 Best Celebrated In These VA Towns, Experts Say

Turkey Day will soon bring families together in Virginia Beach, which has recently been named the third-best place to go for Thanksgiving in the nation.

Virginia Beach is joined by Chesapeake (No. 10) and Washington, D.C. (No. 15) on WalletHub's top 100 list, gobbling up its competition. The personal finance agency released the national list Tuesday.

Virginians will be feasting on turkey and trimmings as Thanksgiving flies into town on Nov. 27.

Nearby Baltimore ranked No. 32 overall.

WalletHub used 18 key metrics, including weather forecasts and flight delays, to determine rankings for its recent holiday survey. Only San Antonio, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia bested Virginia Beach.

Source: WalletHub

“The best cities for celebrating Thanksgiving all have an abundance of high-quality restaurants and places to buy festive decorations, and their residents get very excited for the holiday based on their Google search history," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in the report. "Other features make individual cities stand out; for example, San Antonio has great weather, Atlanta has a fantastic track record for on-time flights and Virginia Beach has surprisingly affordable accommodations.”

Virginia Beach did not do better than San Antonio, Texas (No. 1) but outperformed Stockton, California, the worst place for Thanksgiving, according to the WalletHub data.

"The Resort City" is home to budget-friendly hotels and a slew of restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars.

Some restaurants offering Thanksgiving feasts in Virginia Beach are Captain Georgia's Seafood Restaurant, Surf Club Ocean Grille and the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club.

Virginia Beach has the second-most affordable three-star hotels, with the lowest room rate standing at $41 for a night on Thanksgiving. WalletHub warned some hotels may be more costly.

"Beyond the table, the city has the third-lowest crime rate in the nation, along with some of the most generous residents nearly 5.8% of income goes to charity, ranking 15th overall. To top things off, the city has one of the highest volunteer rates in the country, making it a truly giving community in every sense," experts say.

Thanksgiving celebrants in Chesapeake may visit Hotrodders Café, Hot Pot 757 Chesapeake, Black Pelican Seafood Company and The Butcher’s Son.

In Washington D.C., Thanksgiving dining can take place at Lyon Hall, Ambar-Arlington, Vue Rooftop at Hotel Washington or Alara. The district has other options for observing the annual holiday.

Here are the top 10 Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving, per WalletHub:

1. San Antonio, Texas
2. Atlanta, Georgia
3. Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Dallas, Texas
5. Scottsdale, Arizona
6. Irving, Texas
7. Plano, Texas
8. Loiusville, Kentucky
9. Las Vegas, Nevada
10. Chesapeake, Virginia

See WalletHub's full methodology here.