The Sunday after Thanksgiving emerged as the busiest travel day of the year across the United States, as millions of Americans rushed back home. Airports, highways and transit hubs nationwide experienced a massive surge in passengers, with freight-loads of travelers trying to beat winter weather and make it home in time for Monday commitments.
Holiday travel shatters previous records
This Thanksgiving holiday season set new benchmarks for American travel. According to recent forecasts, nearly 81.8 million people were expected to journey at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday, November 25 and Monday, December 1. That number marks a significant increase over 2024, and represents the highest overall holiday travel volume in recent memory.
Driving remained the dominant mode of travel, with around 73 million people — nearly 90% of holiday travelers — taking to the roads. Meanwhile, airlines had stepped up capacity: carriers added roughly 45,000 extra seats daily, aiming to meet surge demand by offering more flights than last Thanksgiving.
Air travel also surged. Pre-holiday predictions suggested that Tuesday, November 25 might be the peak for flights, with more than 52,000 flights scheduled nationwide that day. Still, after the holiday — when travelers return home — Sunday and Monday were widely expected to see the heaviest passenger traffic in airports across the country.
Airports and the funnel effect — Sunday after Thanksgiving is worst
For many, the post-holiday “return Sunday” is the ultimate travel challenge. Historically, and again this year, that Sunday — the first full day after Thanksgiving — has emerged as the single busiest travel day across U.S. airports. As flyers scrambled for flights and routes home, security checkpoints and baggage claims piled up. For example, some major hubs projected tens of thousands of passengers passing through security just that day. One key airport expected nearly 50,000 travelers to pass through on Sunday alone.
Even airports in so-called “less busy” cities felt the pressure. Meanwhile, long stretches of highway saw heavy congestion, especially in the afternoon and evening hours as families tried to beat bad weather or avoid arriving too late.
Weather adds fuel to the chaos
The 2025 surge came with complications. A widespread winter storm slammed the Midwest and Great Lakes region over the weekend, dumping heavy snow, freezing roads, and forcing cancellations or delays at dozens of airports. The storm disrupted flights in major hubs and created hazardous driving conditions.
Airlines and airports scrambled to respond. Delays, long wait times, and an increased number of cancellations added to traveler frustration. For road travelers, snow and ice meant dangerous driving — especially for those traveling long distances after a tiring holiday weekend.
What travelers should know — and plan for
- If you fly: Sunday and Monday remain the busiest days to fly. Expect crowded terminals, full security lines, and longer waits at baggage claim.
- If you drive: Avoid peak travel windows — typically midday to evening — especially in high-traffic corridors. Plan for delays and winter-weather road hazards.
- For all travel: Give yourself extra time, check weather and road/flight conditions, and remain patient.
Looking ahead, experts suggest that if you can shift travel away from the busiest windows — like opting for mid-week flights or leaving before late afternoon — you’ll likely save time, stress, and maybe even avoid the worst of the crowds.
Want to share your own post-holiday travel experience or tips that helped you beat the rush? Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear from you.