Central Texas Braces for Record-Breaking Thanksgiving Travel Starting Today
As Thanksgiving approaches, Central Texas is preparing for what could be the busiest holiday travel period in the region’s recorded history, with millions of Texans hitting the roads, skies, and rails starting today. However, a storm system moving through the area threatens to complicate travel plans with heavy rain and severe weather.
Record Numbers Expected
AAA Texas projects 5.8 million Texans will travel more than 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period between November 25 and December 1, marking a 1.1% increase over last year and a new record for Thanksgiving travel in Texas. Nearly 90% of Texans will drive to their destination, while about 328,000 Texans will fly and another 140,000 will use other means of transportation.
Popular destinations include Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and the Hill Country.
DFW and Love Field in Dallas both saw a ground stop this morning.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Austin’s airport is gearing up for the holiday rush with significant passenger volumes. Airport officials expect between 30,000 and 35,000 travelers to pass through Austin-Bergstrom International Airport each day during the Thanksgiving holiday period. Last year’s Thanksgiving travel period saw just under 370,000 departing passengers, with the Sunday after the holiday being the busiest day with just over 35,000 people screened by TSA.
The Federal Aviation Administration estimates this week may be the busiest Thanksgiving travel season in 15 years. (Austin American-Statesman)
Travel Tips for AUS:
- Arrive at least 2.5 hours before domestic flights and three hours ahead for international travel
- Roadways around the airport are expected to be congested during the holiday period
- On-site parking is expected to fill quickly, with reservations not accepted from November 25 through December 1
- Consider using CapMetro‘s Route 20 for airport service
Highway Conditions and Traffic Forecasts
Interstate 35, the backbone of Central Texas travel, will see particularly heavy traffic during peak periods.
Peak Travel Times (According to TxDOT):
Pre-Thanksgiving (Wednesday, Nov. 27):
- I-35 travelers headed to Austin or Fort Worth will encounter the busiest traffic from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- I-10 travelers headed to El Paso or Houston should expect heaviest traffic from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Post-Thanksgiving (Sunday, Nov. 30):
- I-35 return traffic will be busiest from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- According to AAA and INRIX, roads will be most congested on November 25 and 26, with heavy return traffic also expected on November 30
As many as 29,000 roadside assistance calls are forecast in Texas during the holiday travel period, so AAA recommends checking your vehicle before departure.
Good News at the Pump: Gas prices are holding relatively steady heading into the holiday. The statewide gas price average in Texas is $2.70 per gallon for regular unleaded fuel, which is five cents more than last week and three cents more compared to last year. In Austin specifically, drivers are paying around $2.71 per gallon, while drivers in San Antonio are paying the most in Texas at $2.86 per gallon and drivers in Lubbock are paying the least at $2.43 per gallon. After peaking at nearly $3.00 per gallon in 2021 and 2022, the statewide average has gradually trended downward.
TxDOT encourages travelers to check DriveTexas.org for real-time traffic conditions and to use navigation apps that can provide traffic trend analysis and alternative routes.
Amtrak Texas Eagle Service
For those preferring rail travel, Amtrak’s Texas Eagle offers an alternative to crowded highways and airports. Amtrak predicts record-breaking 2025 Thanksgiving travel, with double-digit growth in early bookings relative to last year.
The Texas Eagle runs daily between Chicago and San Antonio with major stops in Austin, making it a viable option for travelers heading to or from Central Texas cities. Last year, more than 1.2 million traveled on Amtrak during the busy Thanksgiving season, and this year’s numbers are expected to exceed that.
Weather Concerns for Monday’s Travel Start
The biggest challenge facing travelers as the holiday period begins Monday will be weather. A storm system is bringing heavy rain and severe weather risks to parts of Texas, with the National Weather Service warning that Monday into Tuesday will be particularly problematic anywhere from Texas and eastern Oklahoma into Arkansas and northwestern Louisiana.
Monday’s Forecast for Central Texas:
- A wide band of showers and thunderstorms will move slowly eastward across North and Central Texas on Monday, with heavy rainfall and flooding possible
- A severe thunderstorm threat will exist in the afternoon, with large hail the primary threat, and scattered severe thunderstorms possible across east Texas
- Seven million people are under flood watches through Monday in parts of Oklahoma and North Texas
Rest of the Week: Sunny and cool weather is expected for Thanksgiving Day itself, with clouds increasing Friday and scattered showers returning Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures will be colder than average for much of the country on Thanksgiving morning, with central parts of the U.S. seeing temperatures in the teens.
Safety Reminders
With record travel numbers expected, safety officials are urging caution. There were 868 drunk driving deaths on Thanksgiving from 2019 to 2023, making up 35% of holiday traffic fatalities during that time frame.
TxDOT advises motorists to:
- Plan ahead and avoid peak congestion hours when possible
- Stay alert in work zones along I-35
- Never drink and drive
- Allow extra time for weather-related delays
Whether you’re flying from Austin-Bergstrom, driving the I-35 corridor, or taking the Texas Eagle, planning ahead and staying informed about weather and traffic conditions will be key to a safe and smooth Thanksgiving journey. Check conditions frequently and consider adjusting departure times to avoid the worst congestion and weather.
One person is dead and two others were transported after a crash Sunday afternoon in Georgetown. A 20-year-old driver has been booked into the Travis County jail after showing signs of impairment following his striking an Oncor truck.
The 9900 block of IH 35 North bound at Brandt Road in southeast Austin was shut down due to a collision Sunday night.
The road closure was initiated after a three-car collision that began around 9:10 p.m. There are no serious injuries reported at this time, but minor injuries were reported.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office lifted a shelter-in-place order Sunday after a law enforcement response in Wimberley was determined to be a mental health issue with no danger to the public.
A Silver Alert has been issued for Elizabeth Webb, a 64-year-old woman last seen at 11:30 p.m. Sunday night near the intersection of William Cannon Dr. and Escarpment Blvd. in Southwest Austin.
Police arrested a man last Tuesday for allegedly putting a plastic grocery bag over an Uber delivery driver’s head in south Austin.
According to the affidavit, Joshua Huart appeared to be crying, saying he didn’t know why he acted the way he did and that he had never been violent before. (CBS Austin)
PODCAST
WHY TRAVIS COUNTY MAY OWE TESLA MILLIONS
Tax bills for Travis County residents are going out now, and on them is a big increase for the county, a one-year push to replenish the county’s disaster relief fund after they were depleted following this summer’s floods. Judge Andy Brown joins host Nikki DaVaughn to explain why the tax increase was necessary (and why it’s now facing a lawsuit); how the taxpayer-funded child care program is going; and why he and commissioners are now reviewing Tesla’s property tax rebate contract.
Plus, hear why Judge Brown’s now hopeful that a passenger rail line between Austin and San Antonio may actually come to fruition.
ATX Data on X notes that despite Austin’s convention center being shuttered during reconstruction, the city’s hotels seem to be doing just fine.
There has been almost no difference in Austin hotel tax collection this year vs last even though the convention center has been closed in recent months…
— ATX data (@data_atx) November 22, 2025
Its almost like the economic impact of the convention center has been greatly exaggerated pic.twitter.com/UWZewT1Yna
City officials say the new “wishbone” pedestrian bridge near the Longhorn Dam is expected to be completed by the end of the year. (City of Austin)
No exact opening date has been announced but it is expected it will be sometime in January 2026.
Iconic music venue and Austin landmark Antone’s recently announced it secured a new lease that will keep the club at its current downtown home for another 50 years.
The University of Texas is expanding its free tuition promise to include undergraduate students at the school’s health institutions.
A campaign to force audits of city spending is in full force.
BREAKING – ICYMI: @SaveAustinNow launches a charter amendment petition to require an EXTERNAL affordability and efficiency audit of the entire Austin city budget.
— Save Austin Now (@SaveAustinNow) November 23, 2025
If we collect 25k valid, signed petitions by Feb. 1, it will be on the May 4 ballot. pic.twitter.com/VWhsLcY1Qh
Austin City Hall says “no fat left to trim” every year… then forces another double-digit cost-of-living / tax increase. This petition forces regular, independent, public audits of all city government spending & taxing, performance towards goals, & financial conflicts. And this… pic.twitter.com/rs8OS1hu5H
— Save Austin Now (@SaveAustinNow) November 24, 2025
WEATHER
SUNDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A Dallas police spokesperson said multiple people were shot at a downtown bar, killing one. The suspect was then shot and killed by police.
Meanwhile, a Houston police officer is recovering after a road-rage shooting. The suspect has now faced a judge, and investigators say the key question is whether he knew he was shooting
Local leaders who have fought for investment in broadband and companies serving Texans in the rural counties with limited internet access feel let down after learning they’re getting far less in federal money for broadband expansion than expected. (KXAN-TV)
The ShamWow guy is running for public office in Texas. (Houston Chronicle)
TX CD-31. Remember the "ShamWow" guy from those infomercials a decade ago? Well, that guy – Offer "Vince" Shlomi (R) – is one of 9 GOP challengers running against US Rep John Carter (R) in the primary. pic.twitter.com/s3QzlobArs
— Politics1.com (@Politics1com) November 22, 2025
In states like Texas, California, Kansas and beyond, politicians are fighting to redraw congressional maps that could shape power in America for years to come. The question many are asking is whether 2025’s redistricting efforts are about upholding democracy or diluting representation? USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey and USA TODAY Politics Reporter Kathryn Palmer join The Excerpt to hash out what the implications are for the 2026 midterm elections.
“I strongly oppose any attempt to sideline governors when it comes to their respective National Guards.” — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last year
A year later, Abbott helped Donald Trump do just that. (Texas Tribune)
Newton County authorities arrested 45 people in connection with an illegal dog fighting ring.
A new scientific study warns that the Rio Grande, the river that marks much of the border between the United States and Mexico, is in a state of severe water crisis, driven by decades of overuse and worsening drought. Researchers say the situation now demands urgent action from both countries. (Teas Public Radio)
Our investigation reveals that while Texas is a leader in legislation to stop human trafficking, few people actually face trafficking charges. Jennifer Sanders uncovers difficulties Texas prosecutors face in dismantling modern-day slavery and what it means for those seeking accountability.
A court opinion briefly blocked the Texas congressional redistricting map, setting the stage for a key decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. We track reaction to the lower court’s decision and how the pending Supreme Court case is adding uncertainty for candidates in the campaign to determine whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress.
FEMA is looking for a new leader after the departure of the agency’s acting director. A Texan could be the prime candidate for the job. Hannah Brandt looks into reports that the agency is considering making a move to the Lone Star State.
(Episode from November 23, 2025)
Senior Reporter Brad Johnson sits down with Luke Walford, former Democratic candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, to discuss the campaign’s dynamics, his post-election endeavors, including founding the Agave Fund and his efforts to revitalize the Democratic Party in Texas, congressional redistricting issues, and more
SPORTS
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The latest AP Top 25 College Football Poll is out. The Texas Longhorns are at No. 16 heading into Friday night’s game versus Texas A&M which sits at No. 3. The Red Raiders of Texas Tech are also in the top ten at No. 7.
This feels like an accurate depiction of the team strength week by week for Texas Longhorns in the '25 season
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) November 24, 2025
Just as the offense has started to find life, the elite defense has disappeared
𝑶𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆- 𝑫𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆
𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒆- 𝑶𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆
𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒆- 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑭𝑩𝑺 pic.twitter.com/DbklRkJEVh
Texas Football ROASTS Arkansas, Looks to A&M | LIVE | 11/24/25
WALK-OFF WINNER!!!!!!!
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) November 24, 2025
📺: #PHIvsDAL on FOX
📲: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/RmDxAeCG4M pic.twitter.com/opyauzBEyM
Dallas rallied to stun the first-place Philadelphia Eagles. The 21-point rally for a 24-21 win tied a record for the largest comeback in franchise history. (Dallas Cowboys)
ON THE SCHEDULE
As is tradition, the Cowboys will play at home on Thanksgiving Day.
STANDINGS
NBA: A loss on the road in Arizona last night for the San Antonio Spurs.
Dillon Brooks scored 25 points, Devin Booker had 24 and the Phoenix Suns won their third straight and ended the San Antonio’s three-game streak with a 111-102 victory over the Spurs on Sunday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
ON THE SCHEDULE
The Spurs rest tonight while Dallas and Houston resume action.
STANDINGS
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The Longhorns host Arizona State tonight.
No. 2 Houston is at Syracuse.
A new episode of Texas Tales…
In 1870s South Texas, law collapsed. Justice died. And two families dragged an entire region into a decade-long war of ambushes, assassinations, raids, and revenge.
