If Chris Rea had written Driving Home for Christmas with Thanksgiving in mind, he’d probably still be humming along in traffic somewhere outside Cleveland. Because once again, the great American tradition of giving thanks is closely followed by the great American tradition of sitting in a sea of brake lights, sipping lukewarm coffee, and wondering why you didn’t leave ten minutes earlier.
Thanksgiving 2025 lands on Thursday, November 27. And while most people associate it with turkey, family, and pumpkin pie, the holiday stretches far beyond the US. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving in October, while places like St. Lucia, Liberia, Brazil, Germany, and even the Australian Territory of Norfolk Island hold their own versions of gratitude-focused feasts.
But nowhere does the holiday trigger mass migration quite like the United States.
According to the latest forecast from the American Automobile Association (AAA), an estimated 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home between November 25 and December 1, 2025 (AAA Travel Forecast). Over 90% of them will do so by car. That’s 1.6 million more travellers than last year, another record broken, another year of singalongs echoing through bundled-up minivans nationwide.
And while the weather outlook appears friendlier than in recent years, Mother Nature isn’t the only wildcard. Because holiday travel, like your aunt’s experimental cranberry-and-kale stuffing, can go sideways in all sorts of unexpected ways.
Last Thanksgiving, Emergency Services responded to nearly 600,000 roadside assistance calls, helping stranded drivers deal with flat tyres, dead batteries, lockouts, and the classic I-swear-I-filled-it-up empty fuel tank scenario (AAA Roadside Data). Even with the best-laid travel plans, things happen, especially when millions of people hit the same roads at the same time.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the most common holiday breakdown culprits:
|
Issue |
Percentage of Assistance Calls |
|
Dead batteries |
26% |
|
Flat tyres |
21% |
|
Lockouts |
12% |
|
Empty fuel tanks |
3% |
|
Misc. mechanical issues |
38% |
And yes, it’s frustrating when a car failure means missing a long-planned event. But for travellers who opted into a refund protection programme when booking, an unexpected mechanical breakdown (or an accident, or even vehicle theft- although sadly not running out of fuel) within 48 hours of an event, at least meant recouping the ticket cost. Even if the turkey and pumpkin pie was cold by the time they finally made it home.
This year, the same safety net applies: if a common carrier fails, think delays, cancellations, even strikes, refund programmes tied to event bookings kick in for those who chose them.
Of course, no one wants to think about breakdowns, delays, or missing dessert. But a little preparation goes a long way… and a little backup never hurts.
And if you do find yourself stuck somewhere between mile marker 42 and eternity, humming along to Baby You Can Drive My Car as your dashboard lights flash like festive fairy lights… well, at least you’re in good company. After all, half the country is on the road with you.
Safe travels, and may your gravy, your patience, and your battery charge all hold strong. And if all else fails watch the film Planes Trains and Automobiles !!!