The cold air has settled in, the last of the leaves are falling from New Jersey’s trees, and Thanksgiving week is here again.
Getting the chance to spend quality time with loved ones while enjoying some turkey and pumpkin pie always makes this holiday special. But as New Jersey’s premier car accident law firm, we also know that holiday weekends bring some of the most hazardous conditions on our roadways.
This year is no exception. In fact, Thanksgiving 2025 is shaping up to be one of the busiest – and riskiest – travel periods ever.
Thanksgiving 2025 Travel by the Numbers
Record travel across the U.S.
According to the latest AAA Thanksgiving Travel Forecast:
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81.8 million people in the U.S. are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home between Tuesday, November 25 and Monday, December 1, 2025, a new all-time Thanksgiving record.
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Roughly 90% will be traveling by car – that’s about 73 million drivers on America’s roads over the holiday.
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Around 6 million travelers will fly, a 2% increase over last year, and nearly 2.5 million will travel by train, bus or cruise.
Airports are seeing the same surge. TSA has already had multiple days in 2024 and 2025 where they screened more than 3 million passengers in a single day, with Thanksgiving Sunday setting an all-time record of about 3.08–3.09 million flyers through security. TSA expects similarly high (or higher) volumes this year.
What this means for New Jersey drivers
AAA’s New Jersey forecast shows just how busy things will be locally:
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More than 2 million New Jersey residents are expected to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday period (Nov. 25 – Dec. 1), up about 31,000 people (1.6%) from last year’s record.
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Of those, over 1.8 million New Jerseyans – nearly 90% – will be driving to their destinations, a 1.4% increase from 2024.
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Nearly 175,000 New Jersey residents (about 8.6%) will fly, and about 40,500 will travel by bus, train or cruise.
So if you’re heading out on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Route 1&9, I-78, I-80 or I-287, you’ll be sharing the road with a lot of other drivers.
How Dangerous Is Thanksgiving Travel?
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that 439 people may die in motor-vehicle crashes nationwide over the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday period, down from an estimated 502 deaths in 2024 but still a devastating number of preventable tragedies.
Some key points from NSC and recent analyses:
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Thanksgiving travel has about a 35% higher risk of fatal crashes compared with similar non-holiday periods.
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In 2022, 512 people died in Thanksgiving-related automobile crashes, and more than one-third of those deaths were linked to alcohol impairment.
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NSC’s preliminary 2025 data shows motor-vehicle deaths trending down overall compared to 2024, but holiday periods remain especially dangerous
Heavier traffic, speeding, fatigue from long drives, distraction (especially phones), and impaired driving are the biggest contributors to these crashes.
Best and Worst Times to Drive on Thanksgiving Week (2025)
AAA and traffic-data provider INRIX have analyzed nationwide congestion patterns and released a detailed breakdown of the worst and best times to drive each day of Thanksgiving week.
Holiday travel period (nationwide): Tuesday, Nov. 25 – Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.
Quick cheat sheet
If you remember nothing else, remember this:
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Try to travel in the morning.
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Avoid mid-day and afternoon on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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If you must drive Monday (Dec. 1), go later in the evening.
Day-by-day: best and worst times to drive
Tuesday, Nov. 25 – “Getaway” day #1
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Worst time: 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (heavy congestion and delays)
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Best time: Before 12:00 p.m. (late morning is better than afternoon)
Wednesday, Nov. 26 – Busiest pre-Thanksgiving day
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Worst time: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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Google Maps data shows traffic is about 14% heavier than usual between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with the absolute worst congestion from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
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Best time: Before 11:00 a.m. If you can leave very early (6–9 a.m.), your odds of a smoother trip are much better.
Thursday, Nov. 27 – Thanksgiving Day
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Traffic impact: “Minimal” compared to other days, according to AAA.
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Best time: Morning. Many people are already at their destination, so highways are relatively quiet.
Friday, Nov. 28 – Black Friday / start of return traffic
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Worst time: 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
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Best time: Before 11:00 a.m (or later at night if possible).
Saturday, Nov. 29 – Big return-home day
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Worst time: 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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Best time: Before 10:00 a.m.
Google’s 2025 traffic trends also show Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. as particularly heavy return-traffic windows.
Sunday, Nov. 30 – Traditionally the single busiest travel day
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Worst time: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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Best time: Before 11:00 a.m. (early morning is your safest bet).
Monday, Dec. 1 – Last day of holiday period
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Worst time: 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
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Best time: After 8:00 p.m. – but keep fatigue in mind if you’ll be driving late at night.
New Jersey-specific reality
AAA’s Mid-Atlantic spokesperson has warned that in New Jersey “the roads are going to be extremely busy” and that the bulk of every afternoon (except Thanksgiving Day) will see heavy traffic, especially along our major corridors like the Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and I-95.
Her advice matches the data: “If you can get out before 10 or 11 a.m. on any of the days you’re traveling, that would be your best option.”
Safety Tips for Driving Over Thanksgiving Weekend
With more vehicles and more stress on the roads, a few smart decisions can dramatically reduce your risk of a serious crash:
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Plan for extra time.
Expect delays, especially Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Rushing leads to tailgating, speeding and aggressive lane changes. -
Avoid distracted driving.
Remember to Put Down the Cellphone– a momentary glance at a text is all it takes to cause a rear-end collision or a serious highway pileup. -
Never drive impaired.
AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving point out that there were 868 drunk-driving deaths during Thanksgiving periods from 2019–2023, representing about 35% of holiday traffic fatalities.-
Use a sober designated driver, rideshare, taxi or stay overnight.
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Watch for drowsy driving.
Long drives, late-night returns and big meals can all make you sleepy behind the wheel. Switch drivers, build in rest stops and don’t be afraid to call it a night and finish the trip in the morning. -
Buckle up – every seat, every trip.
NSC data shows that in many holiday-period fatal crashes, fewer than half of vehicle occupants were wearing seat belts. -
Slow down and move over.
AAA emphasizes the importance of slowing down and moving over for emergency vehicles and disabled cars stopped on the shoulde. New Jersey’s Move Over Law requires this whenever it’s safe to do so. -
Check your vehicle before you go.
Before you hit the Turnpike or Parkway, check:-
Tire pressure and tread
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Brakes
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Fluid levels and windshield wipers
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Headlights, brake lights and turn signals
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Know what to do after a crash.
If an accident happens:-
Get to a safe location if possible.
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Call 911 for injuries.
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Exchange information and take photos of the scene and vehicles.
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Avoid arguing fault on the roadside or posting details on social media.
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Contact an experienced personal-injury lawyer as soon as you can.
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Injured in a Car, Truck, or Bus Accident Over Thanksgiving? Our New Jersey Accident Lawyers Can Help.
Our New Jersey accident lawyers give personal attention to every client, including those hurt in:
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Car and rear-end collisions
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Truck accidents involving tractor-trailers and delivery trucks
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Bus accidents and public-transport crashes
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Crashes causing traumatic brain injury, multiple fractures, spinal cord injury, burn injuries, and other serious, life-altering harm
If you or a loved one is injured in a crash during the Thanksgiving holiday – or any time of year – call or text us today at 908-352-2323. You can also send us a message through our Contact Us page to schedule a free consultation.
We handle cases throughout New Jersey and New York, including Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Hackensack, and communities across Morris, Bergen, Hudson, Union and Middlesex counties, with offices in Elizabeth, New Jersey and New York City.
At Mintz & Geftic, WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU.
Sources:
Traffic data from AAA and INRIX shows that the worst times to drive are generally midday through evening on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week, especially between about 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. If possible, avoid starting long trips during those windows, particularly on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and I-95.
The safest times from a traffic standpoint are usually early mornings on most travel days and much of Thanksgiving Day itself, when many people are already at their destinations. Leaving before 10–11 a.m. on your travel day can help you miss the worst congestion and lower your odds of being involved in a serious crash.
Thanksgiving combines heavy traffic, long-distance trips, bad weather in some areas, and more drivers who are distracted, tired or impaired. National Safety Council data shows that Thanksgiving periods routinely see hundreds of preventable traffic deaths each year, with alcohol and lack of seat belt use as major factors.
First, move to a safe area if you can and call 911 for any injuries. Exchange information, take photos of the scene and vehicles, and avoid arguing about fault or posting details on social media. Then contact an experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyer, like Mintz & Geftic, as soon as possible to protect your rights and help you pursue compensation.”
