MSP Airport reveals busiest days for Thanksgiving travel

MSP Airport reveals busiest days for Thanksgiving travelMSP Airport reveals busiest days for Thanksgiving travel

The holiday travel rush is already underway as Americans prepare for Thanksgiving next week.

That means traffic may be a bit heavier on the roads and in the skies through the end of November.

2025 Holiday Travel

AAA says it expects nearly 82 million people to travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday period, a record level that represents an increase of 1.6 million travelers from last year.

Nearly 90% of those travelers are expected to drive to their destination, something the agency says could be boosted by recent flight cancellations.

At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), officials expect more than 441,000 people to pass through security checkpoints during the holiday travel rush.

Busiest Travel Days

MSP’s busiest day will be Sunday, Nov. 30, according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). More than 49,000 travelers are expected to be screened on that day alone.

The busiest pre-Thanksgiving travel day at MSP is expected to be Wednesday, Nov. 26, with nearly 47,000 travelers anticipated.

AAA says the busiest driving times are in the afternoon hours until about 8 p.m. In Minneapolis specifically, Interstate 94 is projected to be the busiest metro road, with AAA projecting a 53% increase in travel time late Sunday afternoon.

Travel Tips

Travelers are encouraged to arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight.

Passengers can reserve spots in the security line with MSP Reserve.

Parking can also be pre-booked at least 12 hours before the scheduled arrival time.

Anyone flying out of Terminal 1 should check the checkpoint wait-time boards upon arrival to find the shortest lines — the MAC says the north checkpoint typically has shorter wait times.

Finally, travelers are urged to review security screening information before getting to the airport to help speed up the process.

MSP also encourages anyone picking up travelers to wait in advance at MSP’s free cell phone lots on Post Road to reduce traffic congestion at curbside pick-up areas.
The post MSP Airport reveals busiest days for Thanksgiving travel first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News.