The best and worst times for Tampa Bay Thanksgiving 2025 travel
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Interstate 275 in Tampa. Photo: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP via Getty Images
It's time for Tampa Bay road and sky warriors to start thinking about Thanksgiving travel.
Why it matters: There will be a record-breaking 4.65 million Floridians leaving town for Thanksgiving this year, AAA predicts.
- At least 4.25 million, aka 91%, will go by car.
- "What's different this year is what has been happening over the past week or so with air travel," AAA Florida spokesperson Mark Jenkins told WFLA. "That's obviously creating some uncertainty for folks."
Yes, but: Don't expect empty airports.
- The FAA has lifted the flight restrictions imposed during the shutdown, and more than 6 million Americans are expected to fly domestically for Thanksgiving — more than last year.
State of play: Roads will be most congested on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, per transportation analytics firm INRIX. Sunday will also be a doozy as holiday revelers head back home.
- If you have to travel those days, shoot for the morning, INRIX recommends.
- Avoid Interstate 4 as a general rule, but especially next Friday afternoon, when the drive from Tampa to Orlando will take nearly three hours — 85% longer than usual.
Zoom in: With FAA restrictions lifted, Tampa International Airport expects more than 924,000 travelers to pass through the airport between today and Dec. 1.
- Sunday is projected to be the busiest day with an estimated 86,300 passengers expected.
Pro tips: TPA is in the middle of a shuttle replacement project, so that might make shuttles extra crowded, airport officials said.
- Security lines will likely take longer, too, although TPA's wait time rarely goes beyond 25 minutes.
- The airport recommends arriving two hours early for domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
Airport parking will be hairy at both TPA and St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport.
- At TPA, travelers can reserve a parking space online.
- PIE doesn't have a reservation system. Airport officials have recommended getting a ride when possible. Find more parking info here.