9 million California drivers issued Thanksgiving journey security alert

Thanksgiving 2025 is about to carry record-breaking site visitors congestion to California, with 9.6 million individuals anticipated to drive throughout the state. 

Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday are anticipated to be the busiest days, and drivers have been informed to plan for prolonged delays.

Police have known as for persistence on the roads as they enhance patrols, however climate is forecast to be calm with no rain or snow.

Why It Matters

California’s roadways are predicted to expertise important site visitors quantity this week, with the surge in highway customers representing a rise of 200,000 vacationers in comparison with final yr, compounding the annual challenges posed by the yr’s busiest interval of vacation journey. 

Officials warn that heavy congestion, elevated accident threat, and better fuel costs will impression tens of millions, making preparation and persistence important for Californians touring to affix household and pals.

What To Know

Millions are set to hit the roads in California this Thanksgiving week, starting Tuesday and persevering with via Sunday. 

According to AAA, the variety of vacationers marks a brand new post-pandemic report, a part of a nationwide development that may see 81.8 million Americans journey at the very least 50 miles from residence—most of them by automobile. 

In California alone, 9.6 million vacationers are projected to hit the roads, up from 9.4 million final yr. 

The heaviest congestion is forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, in addition to Sunday night when many vacationers return residence, per KTLA. 

The California Highway Patrol will enhance patrols, awaiting speeders, impaired, and distracted drivers, notably since 36 individuals died and over 1,100 had been arrested for driving underneath the affect over Thanksgiving final yr. 

“Very often, we see that people who crash are rushing. We also tend to see that when people rush, we have more road rage. So have patience,” California Highway Patrol spokesperson Sergeant Andrew Barclay said.

AAA and INRIX, a transportation analytics company, report that corridors such as I-5 North (Los Angeles to Bakersfield), I-15 North (San Diego to Palm Springs), and US-101 North (San Francisco to Santa Rosa) will experience travel times up to 147 percent longer than normal during peak hours. 

The worst travel windows are expected to be:

• Tuesday: Noon – 9 p.m.
• Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Drivers are encouraged to leave early in the day and plan for extended delays.

The weather this year is expected to be calm, with no rain or snow in the forecast, offering a rare reprieve from travel complications typically caused by inclement conditions. 

“We lucked out,” stated National Weather Service meteorologist Dylan Flynn. “There’s a pretty persistent ridge of high pressure along the coast. There could be clouds in the morning, but there’s no real chance of rain.”

What People Are Saying

California Highway Patrol spokesperson Sergeant Andrew Barclay said: “Really, to be safe, what it really comes down to is that you have to give yourself a lot of time to get where you’re going, and you need to be patient. You’re not getting anywhere fast.”

He added: “My best advice to people is that as we get closer to Thanksgiving, we’ll see more people traveling. So be prepared and plan ahead.”

AAA spokesperson Doug Johnson said: “Thanksgiving is annually the busiest travel holiday there is. Most people fill up before they go to Grandma’s. It’s usually more expensive before the holiday than after it, simply because of the supply and demand.”

Doug Shupe, Auto Club of Southern California spokesperson, said: “Southern Californians go the distance to spend time with family and friends. This holiday is one of the busiest—and most meaningful—times to travel each year.”

What Happens Next

Caltrans will suspend all non-emergency road construction to help relieve congestion, but authorities warn that the sheer volume of vehicles guarantees significant slowdowns statewide. 

The California Highway Patrol will start its vacation journey enforcement interval at 6:01 p.m. Wednesday and proceed via midnight Monday to watch for unsafe driving behaviors and guarantee seat belt compliance.