Thanksgiving travel tips to avoid Colorado’s traffic, airport crowds

Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel, according to AAA. With that in mind, here are a few things Colorado travelers should know before embarking on their holiday journey.

This year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 27. The holiday travel period is from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1. Just the Denver International Airport expects to see 271,000 passengers on Nov. 25, Nov. 29 and Nov. 30.

AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period. It’s predicted that an additional 1.6 million domestic travelers will hit the road, compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record.

“Thanksgiving travel numbers are always impressive because this holiday has become synonymous with heading out of town to spend time with loved ones,” said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. “People are willing to brave the crowds and make last-minute adjustments to their plans to make lifelong memories, whether it’s visiting extended family or meeting up with friends.”

Planes, trains and automobiles

AAA projects at least 73 million people will travel by car, which makes up about 90% of Thanksgiving travelers, according to AAA.

Drivers are paying about the same as last year at the pump, when the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.06 on Thanksgiving Day.

AAA officials advise drivers to fill the tank the night before a road trip, and check the car battery and tire pressure before hitting the road. During the Thanksgiving 2024 travel period, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls to help stranded drivers with issues like dead batteries, flat tires and empty fuel tanks.

Roughly 6 million U.S. travelers are expected to take domestic flights over the Thanksgiving holiday period, a 2% increase compared to 2024.

However, AAA believes that figure could end up being slightly lower as some air travelers make other plans following recent flight cancellations due to the government shutdown. The number of Thanksgiving air travelers over the past several years – with the exception of 2020 – has been between 5 and 6 million, according to AAA.

When should you hit the road over Thanksgiving holiday?

INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, expects Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon to be the most congested periods before Thanksgiving Day.

Travelers returning home on Sunday should also expect heavy traffic most of the day.

AAA suggests that drivers leave in the morning to avoid the worst backups. In Colorado, peak travel congestion Pueblo to Denver via Interstate 25 is expected to be 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25.

AAA advises to travel before noon on Nov. 25 and before 11 a.m. on Nov. 26. After the holiday, the best travel time is early morning before 11 a.m. on Nov. 28 and Nov. 30 and before 10 a.m. on Nov. 29.

Pueblo travelers flying out of Colorado Springs Airport or Denver International Airport should know that the three busiest days at airports nationwide will be Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday.

To avoid the worst airport crowds, choose the Monday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 24) or Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27). AAA added that those days typically have some of the lowest prices on tickets around the holiday.

Colorado Springs Airport, like all other airports in the country, is expecting high travel volumes and recommends that travelers be prepared, follow posted signs and allow extra time for parking. It also is running a holiday parking promotion, cutting daily rates by 50% at the long-term and overflow lots. Those reduced rates are for Nov. 26-30 and Dec. 22-27.

Here are some tips to follow, provided by the Denver International Airport and airline industry experts:

Arrive early at the airport

• Passengers with bags to check should monitor real-time TSA security wait times and arrive inside the airport at least two hours before their boarding time.
• Security wait times can change quickly and there is the potential for longer security lines, especially during peak times, which are 3 a.m. to 4:30 a.m., 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Prepare for TSA security screening

• Review TSA’s 3-1-1 Liquids Rule for liquids, gels, and aerosols in carry-on bags.
• Electronic devices such as cellphones, laptops or gaming consoles and other personal valuables should be placed in your personal item or carry-on bag, not your checked bag.
• Passengers in need of additional assistance during the security screening process are encouraged to contact TSA Cares.
• Be prepared for any scenario. Have your photo identification and boarding pass ready. This will prevent slowing down the screening process.
• Passengers must be screened by (TSA) and be in the Passenger Hold Room at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

Monitor airline flight status

• Download airline apps to receive real-time updates such flight status, boarding times, gate numbers and any other important announcements.
• Travelers are advised to immediately contact their airline if their flight has been affected.
• Medications should be kept on your person in the event of delayed checked, or gate checked carry-on baggage.