Thanksgiving Travel: TSA Braces For One Of Its Busiest Days Ever As Holiday Rush Begins

Thanksgiving travel is expected to break historic records this year, just weeks after the prolonged government shutdown strained airports nationwide.

AAA forecasts that 81.8 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, with 73 million driving and roughly 6 million expected to fly.

The TSA projects an even bigger surge, saying it will screen more than 17.8 million passengers and warning that the Sunday after Thanksgiving may become one of the busiest travel days in its history.

🚨🦃THANKSGIVING TRAVEL

- 3.02/Gallon Gas
- Car Rental Prices Down 15%
- 1.2 Million Passengers by Rail
- Busiest thanksgiving on RECORD!
- 73 MILLION Americans on the Road

Travel Safe, Patriots! pic.twitter.com/zGRu1wAN6Q

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) November 24, 2025

Airports remain stressed after shutdown-related staffing shortages, which helped fuel a spike in Amtrak bookings and an 8.5% rise in bus, train, and cruise travel. On the roads, experts say drivers should leave before 11 a.m. to avoid the worst congestion.

The National Weather Service predicts colder-than-normal conditions across much of the country, with snow possible in the Rockies and Northeast.

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