Record-Breaking Thanksgiving Travel in Charlotte: Discover the Best of the City This Holiday Season

Published on November 26, 2025

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and surrounding highways and byways are getting ready to be very busy. There are millions of travelers who will enter and exit the airport, and countless others will be driving to the city by road. Planning is necessary to make the journey seamless and avoid stress. If you are traveling by air, or driving around the city of Charlotte, consider the following suggestions for traveling during the holiday season that will be most constructive and bring relief.

Travelling through Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)

Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) will be experiencing an exceptionally high volume of travelers during the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be thousands of people flowing through the airport on a daily basis. CLT is already forecasting a dramatic increase in terminal traffic for the year 2025. Therefore, the likelihood of getting on the right flight will require you to plan ahead and get to the airport early, adjusting your arrival to the airport for 2-3 hours in advance of your flight. This is more important if you are leaving on a flight or onward flight to a destination during the Thanksgiving holiday.

CLT has taken several steps to improve operational efficiency during peak holiday travel to relieve customer travel-related stress. Real-time updates regarding airline gate numbers, security wait times, flight delays, and other pertinent flight information are available to travelers via the CLT app. CLT employs many customer service agents and has numerous volunteers on-site to provide directions and answer questions.

Busy travel times mean delays in security lines are to be expected at major airports, including CLT. Travelers are encouraged to utilize expedited security programs, such as TSA PreCheck, or CLEAR, to reduce wait time. If travelers do not have access to expedited screening, they should check TSA wait times in advance and allow sufficient time to get through security. In general, security wait times are likely to be less during off peak travel times, such as early morning or late evening.

Driving in Charlotte During Thanksgiving Week

Like the busy airport, roadways in Charlotte are expected to see high volumes of traffic during Thanksgiving week, as both residents and tourists alike may be traveling to visit family and friends. The I-77 and I-85 corridors, which merge close to the airport, will likely see the most traffic congestion, as those travelers may be going to the airport or other nearby tourist attractions.

Traveling in and around the city can be challenging, so it is important to be aware of ongoing road conditions. The North Carolina Department of Transportation provides ongoing traffic conditions and road closures. Apps like Google Maps and Waze assist with re-routing traffic delays to help drivers arrive at their destinations promptly.

As is the case for most major holidays, the traffic volume during this week is at its peak at the end of the week on the days immediately before (Wednesday) and after the holiday (Sunday). The Sunday after Thanksgiving is one of the highest traffic volume days of the entire year, so travelers driving in and out of Charlotte may see long delays, especially on major highways. For this reason, it is prudent to reduce the amount of driving during peak traffic times, and to plan driving routes ahead of time, to build in extra time for delays.

Charlotte’s Tourist Attractions

Charlotte’s tourism industry tends to receive an influx of customers during the Thanksgiving season. While many travelers are centered around family gatherings during this time of year, Charlotte also has many attractions to visit. To experience variety of Charlotte’s culture, attractions such as the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Carowinds amusement park, and the Levine Museum of the New South are great to visit during the holidays.

During the Thanksgiving time, tourists has the opportunity to experience of many of the annual holiday events of Charlotte. One of the events is the Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is annual and many family go to watch the parade that has floats and participating marching bands and performers. There are also many shops such as SouthPark Mall that have many holiday themed events and have many people visit.

If holiday shopping is not your style, you can take a walk through Freedom Park and enjoy the many holiday events that many restaurants and cafes around Charlotte offer. It is also a time that Charlotte has many Thanksgiving holiday style menus.

Public Transportation in Charlotte

If travelers would prefer not to drive during the busy Thanksgiving week, they can use the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Serves the airport, downtown, and other major hubs in the City of Charlotte. To get to downtown and major attractions in Charlotte, take the LYNX Blue Line light rail, which goes to the airport and then downtown. You can get to and from several popular neighborhoods and attractions on the light rail.

CATS does not operate on a regular schedule during Thanksgiving week, which means that passengers should verify times in advance. CATS serves major shopping and dining areas, and popular tourist attractions, which makes it convenient and inexpensive for travelers to use from and to the downtown core.

Planning for Thanksgiving Week Travel in Charlotte

To and from Charlotte, Thanksgiving travel can be frustrating due to heavy traffic, both on the roads and in the air. To make your travel experience as seamless as possible, be sure to plan ahead. If you are flying on Thanksgiving to Charlotte, driving in and around the city, or using public transport (or a combination of the three), be sure to schedule extra time to get to your destination to help reduce the stress of holiday travel. Updated and real-time information will help you avoid busy travel times.

While this will be the first holiday season where the city experiences its greatest number of visitors, Charlotte offers an array of attractions, events, and one of a kind restaurants that will make its Thanksgiving season unforgettable. Charlotte offers many activities to take part to this Thanksgiving week such as parks, museums and holiday events.

Conclusion

Traffic has surged and this week has become one of the busiest Thanksgiving weeks for Charlotte North Carolina as the week of Thanksgiving for the city approaches. Travelers should be prepared for a busy week to take in the many features the city has to offer. If you are looking to avoid the congestion, delays are only to be expected with a booked itinerary. Charlotte has a lot to explore this week, with traditional and modern attractions, as well as holiday activities. This is the perfect time for tourists to visit Charlotte, especially with families.