The best and worst times for D.C. Thanksgiving 2025 travel
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It's time for D.C. road and sky warriors to start thinking about Thanksgiving travel.
Why it matters: There'll be a record-breaking 81.8 million Americans leaving town for Thanksgiving this year, AAA predicts.
- At least 73 million people, aka 90% of all Thanksgiving travelers, will go by car.
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: The DMV's worst Turkey Day traffic will be the Tuesday before Thanksgiving around 4:30pm on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway heading out of the D.C., per INRIX.
- Expect the trip to Baltimore to take almost two hours — a 166% jump in congestion.
- And the Wednesday pre-holiday will be the busiest day to snag a rental car, Hertz tells AAA.
Nationally, the worst times to hit the road will be Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons before Thanksgiving and the following Sunday, says INRIX.
- The best travel day: Thanksgiving.
✈️ "Things are back to normal" at area airports following the shutdown's end, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesperson James Johnson tells Axios.
- DCA and Dulles will likely see the most passengers this Friday and the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
🚕 Pro tips for drivers: Virginia and Maryland will lift most lane closures surrounding the holiday, per state transportation departments.
Virginia also has a map showing expected holiday travel trends.
- Plus, the 395 and 95 Express Lanes will reverse early for Thanksgiving travel.
Maryland drivers can check out traffic cameras, maps and a real-time list of traffic incidents.
🛫 Pro tips for fliers: Roads around both airports will be especially congested this Friday and the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as well as the Sunday and Monday post-holiday, per the MWAA.
