There is something about Thanksgiving travel that hits different and this year feels even more intense. I was packing a duffel bag last night with one headphone in when a headline popped up saying this is the busiest Thanksgiving travel season ever recorded. 

So of course, I clicked.

According to AAA, about 81.8 million people are traveling for Thanksgiving this year. That is 1.6 million more than last year. It also means close to 73 million people are choosing to drive. Highways across the country will basically be doing their best impression of a slow moving river from Tuesday into Wednesday. And for everyone flying, you are joining almost 6 million other travelers heading into airports that already feel like they were built for a much smaller planet.

The timing makes things even trickier. Every forecast points to weather rolling across the middle of the country early in the week. I was staring at a big streak of green and yellow on my weather app that stretched from Texas up toward Minnesota and Wisconsin. Rain for some people. A possible wintry mix for others. The kind of forecast that makes you wonder if Thanksgiving should be held over Zoom again.

New York might get lucky though. Early predictions show the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade staying dry which is good news for the giant balloons. Everyone is waiting to see if the new Labubu balloon actually looks cute or terrifying in real life. Honestly, probably a mix of both.

Here is the part no one really talks about. Getting to your destination is just one act of the story, getting home is the real adventure.

Sunday is expected to be the heaviest return travel day. Airports everywhere will hit peak crowds and a fast moving snow system is expected to sweep across the Dakotas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. If your return flight connects through cold weather, you might want to prepare mentally now. We have all lived through the “your plane is here but the crew is stuck somewhere else” announcement and it always lands like a plot twist no one asked for.

And it is not just chatter online. The ABC News travel outlook says this will be one of the busiest Thanksgiving travel periods in recent memory. TSA is already bracing for record volume which means every little delay gets magnified. This is the week where one missing ID or one slow moving line can shift your whole schedule.

So what do you do about it?

Start with buffer time. If your flight leaves at 2 in the afternoon, do not leave your house at noon like you are starring in your own movie. Add time on the front end and move slowly. If you are driving, leave earlier than feels normal. There is nothing worse than trying to beat the rush and realizing you became the rush.

Pack like your trip might not go according to plan. Throw an extra charger into your backpack. Bring snacks so you are not paying fourteen dollars for a stale airport sandwich. Accept that Aunt Pat might actually be right when she insists you take leftovers. Delays are always easier when you have mashed potatoes in your bag.

And try to keep an eye on your spending. Holiday travel has this sneaky way of making costs jump. Rideshares spike. Airport food turns into a tiny financial crime. Last minute hotel rooms become part of the storyline if weather slows everything down. Setting a little travel buffer in your budget can save you from the “how did I spend this much between security and boarding” moment.

Most importantly, remember that the chaos is kind of baked into the whole experience. Almost everyone around you is also tired, also stressed, also trying to visit people they love and also hoping they make it home on time. There is something comforting about that. Millions of strangers all doing the same ridiculous thing you are doing at the same time.

So whether you are flying, driving, carpooling, or praying your train does not get delayed, good luck. Leave early. Stay flexible. Have a backup plan ready. Thanksgiving is about food and family. Getting home afterward is the real test of patience.