The Best (and Worst) Times to Travel This Thanksgiving
Beat the holiday chaos with smart timing. Here's how to avoid traffic jams, airport delays, and the busiest flying day of the year.
Challenges for Thanksgiving Travel in 2025
Thanksgiving travel is typically hectic, but in 2025 an ongoing government shutdown adds a new complication. The shutdown, now over eight weeks long, affects tens of thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA agents who continue working without pay as absences increase.
“Delays and cancellations beget delays and cancellations,” said aviation analyst William J.
The FAA has announced a 10% cut in air traffic at 40 major airports as a safety precaution, which will almost certainly cause longer lines and slower operations both in airports and on the tarmac. Experts warn that if the shutdown continues through the holidays, routine delays could escalate into widespread airport-wide disruptions.
Travel Tips and Advice
- Plan travel times carefully to avoid peak congestion periods.
- Expect longer wait times and potential delays at major airports.
- Sign up for newsletters and alerts to stay informed about conditions.
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Author's summary: Navigating Thanksgiving travel in 2025 requires smart timing due to an ongoing government shutdown causing reduced air traffic control and increasing airport delays nationwide.