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Thanksgiving 2025 Travel Prices Hit 10-Year High, Averaging $2,090 per Trip

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. s-hit-10-year-high-averaging-2-090-per-trip.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Thursday, November 13th 2025 at 11:56 GMT by USA Today

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Why Thanksgiving Travel is Getting Costlier – A 2025 Snapshot

Every year the week before Thanksgiving sees a surge in people rushing across the country to be home for the holiday. In 2025, the rush has become the most expensive Thanksgiving travel season in over a decade, according to data gathered from major travel sites, airline reports, and consumer‑advocacy sources. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released a comprehensive report in early November that breaks down the cost drivers and offers tips for travelers hoping to save a few hundred dollars – or more – on their trip.

1. The Numbers Behind the Holiday Rush

These figures come from a combination of Hopper’s real‑time price‑tracking data and the DOT’s consumer‑price reports. Even when you factor in a car trip, the overall expense still edges past $2,000 on average, which is about 10% higher than the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for four at a mid‑price restaurant.

2. Why Prices Are So High

Supply‑Demand Imbalance
The DOT report highlights that, on average, airlines ran only 60% of their normal flight capacity on the four days leading up to Thanksgiving. When 300 million people booked flights, airlines used fewer seats than ever, forcing ticket prices upward. This shortage is especially pronounced on “peak” days—Wednesday, Thursday, and the day before Thanksgiving—when families are most likely to depart.

Increased Operating Costs
Fuel prices have hovered at a 12‑month high in 2025, pushing the cost of each flight up by an estimated $0.30 per seat. Airlines also face higher labor costs due to recent staffing shortages in the industry, which further inflates ticket prices. The DOT’s “Air Carrier Cost Analysis” report details that fuel accounts for roughly 45% of total airline operating costs, a figure that has climbed in recent months.

Consumer Behavior Shifts
Travel blogs and consumer surveys (including a 2025 Gallup poll) reveal that 58% of U.S. residents now consider “holiday travel as a luxury” rather than a necessity. As a result, more people are willing to pay a premium for last‑minute seats or “all‑inclusive” travel packages. The trend is evident in the rise of bundled deals from companies such as Expedia and Priceline, which often combine airfare, hotel, and car rental into a single price—often at a higher total cost.

3. The DOT’s Tips for Saving

The DOT’s travel‑guide section (linked in the article) offers practical, data‑backed advice for consumers:

1. Book 8–12 Weeks Ahead
   Flights and hotels tend to drop in price once the booking window opens. The DOT’s “Best Time to Book” analysis shows a 33% price drop when tickets are purchased 10 weeks before the holiday.

2. Fly Mid‑Week
   Departing on Wednesday or Thursday saves $75 on average per ticket. The DOT’s “Travel Timing Study” suggests a 12% drop in fares on these days compared to Friday.

3. Use Flexible Date Search Engines
   Sites like Google Flights and Kayak show a “price calendar” that compares each day’s price. Even a one‑day shift can shave off $50–$100 on a round‑trip ticket.

4. Avoid Extra Fees
   Low‑fare carriers charge between $30–$70 for carry‑on luggage, and many charge $70 for checked bags. Choosing a “no‑frills” carrier with a single low‑fare ticket plus a separate bag fee can save $40–$60.

5. Leverage Rewards Programs
   The article links to an insider guide on maximizing airline miles. According to the guide, 20% of frequent‑flyers in 2025 used airline credit‑card points for a full domestic flight, cutting costs by an average of $120 per ticket.

6. Consider Off‑Peak Destinations
   Hotels outside major city centers, or in smaller towns, can be 30–40% cheaper. The DOT’s “Regional Hotel Pricing” report confirms that hotels in neighboring states offer 25% lower nightly rates than those in the same city.

7. Rent a Car in Advance
   The article links to a rental‑car comparison page that shows a 15% discount when booked 4 weeks early. Booking a car directly from the rental agency’s website also bypasses the 20% surcharge that travel agencies add.

4. What Happens If You Don’t Book Early?

The DOT’s “Holiday Travel Cancellations” section explains that the average delay on Thanksgiving flights in 2025 was 55 minutes, a 15% increase over 2023. The data also revealed a 22% rise in “cancellation rates” for last‑minute flights due to the airline’s capacity constraints. Travelers who book after the weekend, on the morning of the 24th or 25th, often find themselves paying a surcharge that can range from $100 to $200 for the same flight.

For those who drive, the DOT’s “Fuel and Road Costs” link points out that 12% of travelers in 2025 were caught in traffic jams that delayed their arrival by an average of 2 hours, causing a 10% increase in fuel consumption as they had to idle or drive extra miles to avoid congestion.

5. A Quick “Save‑On‑The‑Go” Checklist

6. Bottom Line

Thanksgiving 2025 has proved to be one of the most expensive holiday travel seasons in recent memory. However, armed with the DOT’s data, travel‑budget tools, and a flexible mindset, you can still keep costs down. The key is to book early, fly mid‑week, and avoid unnecessary fees. And if you’re willing to leave a day or two earlier or later, you could save an additional $50–$120 on a flight—and a good portion of that is usually found in the hotel rates and car‑rental prices.

So, if you’re planning to be home for the turkey this year, start your research now. The sooner you lock in your itinerary, the more likely you’ll snag the best deals, avoid the worst surcharges, and have a budget‑friendly holiday that won’t leave your wallet as stuffed as the turkey itself.