Thanksgiving travel 2026: flying vs driving, with fares up 31% and the cheapest days

Getting home for Thanksgiving costs more this year, whether you fly or drive. Hopper says the average domestic round-trip fare for the holiday is $402, up 31% on last year, and gas was about $1.20 a gallon dearer than a year earlier when we checked. Airlines have also raised checked bag fees.

We've compared the cost of flying and driving for Thanksgiving, which falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Gas prices come from AAA, airfares from Hopper's 2026 Holiday Travel Index, bag fees from the airlines and news reports, and driving costs from the IRS and AAA. Figures were checked on October 27, 2026. Gas prices and fares change daily, so check them again before you decide.

At a glance

• Average Thanksgiving airfare: $402 round trip, according to Hopper, up $95 on 2025.
• Cheapest days to fly: out on Monday, November 23 (about $370), back on the Monday or Tuesday after (about $350).
• Dearest day to fly: returning on Sunday, November 29, at about $604.
• Gas: AAA's national average was $4.27 a gallon on October 27, against $3.05 a year earlier.
• Checked bags: now $45 for the first bag on Delta, United and Southwest (for newer bookings), and $50 on American.

Flying vs driving compared

Flying: what it costs and when to go

Hopper's 2026 Holiday Travel Index, published in September, put the average domestic round trip for Thanksgiving at $402, up 31% or $95 on last year. AP's coverage of the report linked the rise to higher jet fuel costs, route cuts and higher bag fees.

The day you fly makes a big difference. Hopper found the cheapest day to leave is Monday, November 23, at about $370, and flying on Thanksgiving Day itself is almost as cheap, at about $371. Coming back on the Monday or Tuesday after the holiday averages about $350. The most expensive option is returning on Sunday, November 29, at about $604, while a Black Friday return is about $420. Hopper also said hotels average $170 a night, about the same as last year.

Hopper's advice was to book before Halloween, so if you haven't booked yet, set a fare alert and be flexible on the dates.

Bag fees and ID

All four of the big US airlines raised checked bag fees in April 2026. Delta's own site lists $45 for the first bag and $55 for the second on most fares, and NBC Chicago reported the same for United. American raised its fees to $50 and $60, Bloomberg Government reported. Southwest's own site lists $45 and $55 for tickets booked or changed from April 9, 2026, or $35 and $45 for earlier bookings, and some fares and cardmembers get free bags. Fees are each way, so a family of four checking one bag each pays $360 to $400 for the round trip.

If you don't have a REAL ID or another accepted ID such as a passport, TSA's ConfirmID lets you pay a $45 fee to be verified at the airport, covering 10 days of travel. TSA says it can take up to 30 minutes and isn't guaranteed to work, so check your ID well before the trip.

Driving: what it costs

AAA's national average for regular gas was $4.266 a gallon on October 27, 2026, down from $4.48 a month earlier but up from $3.05 a year earlier. Prices vary a lot by state, so check AAA's state averages for your route.

Gas is only part of the cost of driving. The IRS business mileage rate, which covers gas, wear and tear, insurance and depreciation, rose to 76 cents a mile from July 1, 2026. AAA's 2026 Your Driving Costs study puts the cost of owning a new vehicle at $12,863 a year. If the car is already paid for and you'd keep it anyway, the extra cost of a trip is mostly gas and wear and tear, so somewhere between the gas bill and the IRS rate.

Rental cars

We couldn't find a 2026 Thanksgiving rental car price from AAA, Kayak, Hopper or Priceline when we checked. Last year AAA said domestic rental rates were about 15% cheaper than in 2024. Prices for the holiday week can rise fast at busy airports, so book early with free cancellation and check again nearer the date.

How busy will it be?

AAA's 2026 Thanksgiving forecast wasn't out when we checked. Last year AAA forecast a record 81.8 million people traveling over the holiday period, 73 million of them by car and 6 million by air. The TSA screened a record 3.13 million people on the Sunday after Thanksgiving 2025. INRIX, AAA's traffic partner, said the worst times to drive last year were Wednesday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., while Thanksgiving Day had little traffic.

Where each wins and falls short

• Flying wins for long trips and solo travelers, especially on Thanksgiving Day or the Monday after. But fares are up 31%, bags add $90 to $100 a person round trip, and Sunday returns are dear.
• Driving wins for families and shorter trips, since the cost is per car. But gas is much higher than last year, and Wednesday and Sunday traffic can add hours.

Tips to pay less

1. Shift your dates. Flying out on Monday, November 23 or on Thanksgiving Day, and back on Monday, November 30, avoids the highest fares.
2. Travel with carry-ons. Checked bags now cost $45 to $50 each way on the big airlines.
3. Fill up where it's cheaper. Gas apps and AAA's state averages show where prices drop along your route.
4. Leave early or late. Driving on Thanksgiving morning, or before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, avoids the worst traffic, based on last year.
5. Book refundable. Free cancellation on a rental car or hotel lets you rebook if prices drop.

Your questions answered

Is it too late to get a cheap flight?

Prices tend to rise closer to the date, but you can still save by choosing the cheapest days. Hopper's figures show a $254 gap between a Monday return and a Sunday return.

Does Southwest still have free bags?

Not for most fares. Southwest started charging for checked bags in May 2025. Its Choice Extra fare, A-List Preferred members and Southwest cardmembers still get free bags.

Sources: Hopper: 2026 Holiday Travel Index, AP via Fox 5 New York: holiday airfares, AAA: gas prices, AAA: Thanksgiving travel forecast 2025, AAA: Your Driving Costs 2026, IRS: standard mileage rates, Delta: baggage, NBC Chicago: United bag fees, Bloomberg Government: American bag fees, Southwest: travel fees, TSA: ConfirmID fee, AOL: TSA record day