Thanksgiving travel by road Drivers should leave home in the morning or after 6 p.m. to avoid the heaviest traffic, INRIX said. On Sunday, Nov. 26, the worst traffic is forecast to be between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The best time to hit the road will be before noon, according to INRIX.

To avoid the worst congestion during the 2026 Thanksgiving holiday, you should strictly avoid traveling on the Wednesday afternoon before Thanksgiving and the Sunday afternoon following the holiday. Traffic data consistently shows that the window between 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Wednesday is the most congested time of the entire year, as commuters mix with holiday travelers. On Sunday, the return rush typically peaks between 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM. For the smoothest experience, the best times to drive are Thanksgiving Day morning itself (before 11:00 AM), which often sees very light traffic, or the Monday following the holiday if you can extend your trip. If you must travel on Wednesday, leaving before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM is highly recommended. Major metropolitan corridors, particularly I-95 in the Northeast and I-5 on the West Coast, can see travel times increase by as much as 300% during the "peak" Sunday return window, so utilizing real-time navigation apps to find alternate back-road routes is essential for 2026 travelers.