You know, Thanksgiving travel can be super stressful if you’re not prepared. I’ve been there, and it can feel like a mess if you’re not ahead of things. Over the years, I’ve picked up a few tricks that have helped us get through the holiday chaos a little smoother. So here are my best stress free Thanksgiving travel tips to help make your Thanksgiving travel just a bit more manageable.
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Traveling during the holidays, including Thanksgiving, can be a heartwarming experience, but it often comes with its own set of challenges. If you’re visiting family across the country, or deciding to enjoy a special Thanksgiving getaway with your family, there’s lots of preparation to be done.
If you aren’t prepared, there can also be stress and aggravation, especially if there’s traveling involved. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for travel, so you want to make sure you are doing everything in your power to make it stress-free.
#1 – Book Early
As soon as you lock in your travel plans, start booking for it. I know it’s tempting to wait, hoping for a better deal, but in my experience, waiting too long can cost you big.
Every year, we’d put off booking flights thinking, “Oh, we’ll just snag something closer to the date,” but that usually led to limited flight options, higher prices, and more stress.
A couple of years ago, we got smart and booked our Thanksgiving travel in late summer. The flights were cheaper, and we had more time options to choose from. Plus, early birds get the best seat choices, and I always aim for aisle seats for easy in-and-out access with the kids.
And if you’re driving, this applies to hotels too! Book your flights, your rental car, your lodging, your restaurant reservations – basically anything that you need to reserve a spot for, do it as soon as possible.
I prefer to use Booking when making reservations. They always seem to have the widest variety of lodging options and the best rates.
Thanksgiving is a very busy season, and you do not want to be scrambling last minute to find a place to stay, or to find transportation. Book it early and save yourself the headache!
#2 – Travel Early
Avoiding the Thanksgiving rush is the key to limiting stress during your holiday travels. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is notorious for being one of the busiest travel days of the year, so I strongly recommend avoiding Wednesday altogether.
My family used to always travel that day, and without fail, we’d end up stuck in massive traffic or long airport security lines. One year we decided to leave on the Monday before Thanksgiving, and it was a completely different experience. The airport was quieter, the roads were much more manageable, and we got to our destination with plenty of time to unwind before the holiday.
Even if you can’t leave days early, you could try leaving in the early morning instead of the afternoon or evening when everyone else is on the move. Early flights tend to have fewer delays, and if you’re driving, hitting the road before dawn can save you hours of bumper-to-bumper holiday traffic.
#3 – Extend Your Stay
Another Thanksgiving travel tip that has saved us from a lot of stress is extending our stay through the Monday after Thanksgiving.
Do everything in your power to avoid traveling home on Sunday—it’s notoriously chaotic. Everyone is trying to get back to work and school, but if you’ve got the flexibility, staying that extra day makes a world of difference.
An added benefit of staying later is that transportation costs tend to be significantly cheaper once the rush of the holiday has passed. You can score much better deals if you wait just a few more days before coming home.
#4 – Prepare for Bad Weather and Traffic
Thanksgiving is in late November, and depending on where you’re coming from and where you’re traveling to, the weather can be unpredictable.
I’m from Boston, where our weather is as crazy as we are, so I always keep an eye on the weather forecast before we leave and plan for potential delays. If there’s a storm in the forecast, we give ourselves extra time or adjust our departure plans.
The same goes for traffic. Apps like Waze or Google Maps are great when it comes to updating for realtime traffic issues, but I always add a little more time to whatever the ETA says.
If you’re flying, check your flight status regularly, especially if bad weather is in the forecast. Being prepared helps reduce stress if things do go wrong.
#5 – Pack Only What You Need
If you are flying, do everything you can to not have to check a bag. I very strongly recommend packing everything you need in a carry-on only.
If you check a bag, not only do you need to give yourself that extra bit of time to get it checked in, and wait for it to come out, but you also now run the risk of that bag getting lost or delayed. Lost or delayed luggage is definitely a hassle you want to avoid during the holiday season!
Expert Tip: If you have to check a bag, I strongly recommend throwing an Apple AirTag in the luggage. You then can track your bag and be able to find it wherever it may go.
If you’ve never traveled with only a carry-on before, here are my best quick tips to do it successfully.
- Wear your heaviest and bulkiest clothes and shoes on the plane.
- Use packing cubes to compress your clothes and allow you to fit more in a smaller space.
- Utilize the space inside your shoes! Stuff them with socks, underwear, accessories, deodorant, or anything else that will fit.
- Bring travel-sized toiletries instead of your full sized bottles.
- Pack versatile, neutral-colored pieces that allow you to mix-and-match your outfits.
Note- If you are traveling to an all-inclusive resort, it will be very difficult to pack everything you need in a carry on but it is possible.
Many folks opt to take Caribbean cruises during the holiday season, and again it will be difficult to pack for that in a carry on only. Read my list of cruise essentials to see exactly what you’ll need to pack.
#6 – Keep The Kids Entertained
All parents know the disastrous results of bored kids while traveling, so do yourself a huge favor and make sure the kids have everything they need to stay entertained this holiday season. And you too for that matter!
Pre-download games, music, movies, and tv shows to all the devices. Make sure those devices are all fully charged, and bring extra chargers.
Grab books, games, toys, essentially whatever everyone needs to stay occupied, whether you’re flying with kids or driving.
#7 – Preparation Is Key For Road Trips
If you are taking a road trip to your Thanksgiving destination, your most important action is preparation. You want to be prepared for the minor inconveniences so they don’t turn into major problems. Use my road trip packing list to help you prepare!
Make sure your car registration and inspection sticker (if you live in a state that requires that) is up to date. Also make sure your oil change and other maintenance items will last the length of your trip (and back) with room to spare.
Have a game plan for things like a flat tire – make sure you have a spare and all the tools you need to change it. Fill your gas tank up the night before you are leaving.
Keep wipes, paper towels, and trash bags on hand for spills, sticky hands, or car sickness. When we were potty training our kids we kept a mini potty in the car for those times when they “just can’t hold it”. Have a change of clothes ready for everyone in case of bathroom accidents or spills.
Be sure to pack a first aid kit with bandages in different sizes and various medications for kids and adults in case the need arises. The more preparation you do before you leave, the smoother the entire trip will go!
#8 Utilize Technology
These days, there are so many apps and tools that can make travel easier. We use apps for everything—checking flight statuses, finding the cheapest gas, or even tracking our road trip progress.
You definitely want to download your airline’s app. With it, you can check in to your flights, get your boarding pass, and be notified of any changes or delays.
Google Maps or Waze are both great for avoiding traffic jams or just getting around an unfamiliar area.
#9 – Practice Patience
Traveling is a great way to cultivate patience. There are actually quite a few powerful benefits of traveling but patience is something that is essential to any successful getaway.
Issues arise, unforeseen circumstances change our plans, mistakes get made, it happens.
But what is of utmost importance is not sweating the small stuff. Try your best to go with the flow, especially in situations that you have no control over.
Understand that on days where tons of people are all traveling, things are bound to go wrong. Other travelers are dealing with the same issues, so a little patience and kindness can go a long way.
Final Thoughts On Stress Free Thanksgiving Travel
At the end of the day, Thanksgiving travel is always going to be a little hectic. But with some good planning, a flexible attitude, and maybe a little help from technology, it doesn’t have to be a nightmare.
Remember, the goal is to spend time with loved ones, so try to keep that in mind when things inevitably go sideways. Follow the advice above and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying your Thanksgiving, as stress-free as possible.
