Plan Your Thanksgiving Trip: Best Times To Hit The Road

The week of Thanksgiving is expected to be one of the busiest travel periods in 2024, with nearly 80 million Americans projected to journey 50 miles or more from home, according to AAA. More than 71 million of these travelers are expected to drive, making it essential to plan to avoid peak congestion times.

Best Driving Times

To minimize delays, drivers should consider traveling during off-peak hours. Here are key recommendations based on AAA and INRIX data:

1. Monday, Nov. 25: Travel before 11 a.m. to avoid afternoon congestion (1–5 p.m.).
2. Tuesday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 27: Depart before 10 a.m. or late in the evening to steer clear of heavy traffic during mid-afternoon and early evening hours.
3. Thanksgiving Day: Minimal traffic is expected throughout the day, making it an optimal time to travel.
4. Black Friday, Nov. 29: Leave after 1 p.m. to bypass morning delays.
5. Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 1: Aim to travel before 1 p.m. on either day to avoid returning holiday traffic.

Travel Trends and Gas Prices

Gas prices in Oklahoma are among the most affordable in the country as Thanksgiving approaches, providing relief to road trippers this holiday season, according to GasBuddy.

In Tulsa, the average price per gallon is $2.38, with some locations in Bartlesville offering prices as low as $2.29.

Oklahoma City’s average price per gallon is around $2.33, while some nearby areas, like Norman, report prices as low as $2.16.

These figures are significantly lower than the national average, which is expected to drop below $3 per gallon during the Thanksgiving travel period, according to GasBuddy and AAA projections.

Weather Conditions

Temperatures will drop on Wednesday as a cold front moves into Oklahoma. The front will be mostly dry, though there is a slight chance of light showers in some areas.

Thanksgiving Day will be chilly statewide, with average highs in the mid-40s. Black Friday and the weekend are expected to remain dry, making for ideal travel conditions.

Travelers heading to the Colorado and Sierra Nevada regions will encounter heavy snow conditions on Monday and Tuesday as a Pacific front moves east.

This front will also bring rain that could impact those traveling to the East Coast on Thanksgiving day.