Last-Minute Thanksgiving Travel Tips

By air or by car, traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday can be a stressful endeavor. There are however, a few simple things that you can do to make your journey much more pleasant. Here are a few last-minute travel tips to help make your Thanksgiving holiday more enjoyable.

Over the River and Through the Woods...

If traveling by car, the most important thing is to make certain you know exactly how to get to where you are going. If it is your first trip to a new destination, mark out your route on a map, or use an online service such as Mapquest to get detailed directions. The last thing you want to do is miss your Thanksgiving turkey dinner because you took a wrong turn.

Service your car the day or night before you leave. Fill up the gas tank, check your oil and other fluids, tire pressures, etc. Not only will this save time before embarking the next day, but it will also give you the chance to make sure nothing is wrong with your vehicle before leaving on your trip. Most businesses are closed for Thanksgiving day, so if you end up needing a tow truck, you may be in for a long wait, with no hopes of getting any of Grandma's turkey or Aunt Ida's cranberry sauce.

Pack your vehicle the night before you leave. This will help prevent a frantic, mad dash in the morning. Leave out only what you absolutely need, such as hair brushes, toothpaste, etc. Another option would be to have two sets of these items: a set to pack and a set to leave at home. If you are traveling with children, have them pack a small fun bag the night before, including any books, music or small toys they want to bring with them in the car. Don't forget to pack snacks and drinks to prevent unnecessary stops.

Fly Like an Eagle...

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times at the airport. With heightened security measures, it is best to be completely prepared before arriving at the airport to ensure that you do not miss your flight.

Plan on arriving at the airport well in advance of the time your flight is supposed to take off. During peak travel times such as Thanksgiving, many airports and airlines require you to check in within a certain amount of time before your flight. Take into consideration that all airports now have more thorough security checkpoints. Arrive early enough to allow yourself plenty of time to get through security and check in with your airline.

Pack as lightly as possible to help expedite your boarding process. Due to heightened security at airports, some items are no longer permissible to carry onto the aircraft. If you are in doubt of what items are allowed, you can check the Transportation Security Administrations (TSA) website, for a complete list of permitted and prohibited items. Most questions or concerns that you may have about air travel can also be found and answered on the TSA website.

For a more in-depth look at how to make Thanksgiving air travel easier, be sure to read Tips for Thanksgiving Air Travel by ST, which is filled with excellent recommendations on how to make sure your Thanksgiving flight comes out without a hitch.