Summary
In California, 9.6 million people are expected to drive during Thanksgiving 2025, resulting in high traffic congestion. The busiest travel days are forecasted to be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday, with increased police patrols on the lookout for dangerous driving behavior. Officials advise drivers to plan for delays and travel safely, but the weather is expected to be clear.
Key Facts
- Around 9.6 million people are expected to drive in California during Thanksgiving week in 2025.
- The busiest travel days are predicted to be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday.
- Police will increase patrols to monitor speeding, distracted driving, and DUI, as 36 people died from DUI-related incidents during Thanksgiving last year.
- Traffic congestion is expected to reach a 147% increase on busy routes like I-5 North, I-15 North, and US-101 North during peak hours.
- Drivers are encouraged to travel early in the day to avoid peak congestion times.
- Weather forecasts show calm conditions with no rain or snow expected.
- AAA reports that Thanksgiving travel will set a post-pandemic record, with 81.8 million Americans traveling at least 50 miles from home.
- Caltrans plans to suspend all non-emergency road construction to help reduce congestion.
