Thanksgiving and December holiday travel 2026: key dates, ID rules and TSA packing tips

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, and Christmas Day is Friday, Dec. 25, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's federal holiday calendar. New Year's Day, Jan. 1, 2027, is also a Friday, so both December holidays create three-day weekends for many workers. If you plan to fly or drive, a few rules and tips from federal agencies can save time and money.

TSA and AAA usually publish their holiday travel forecasts closer to Thanksgiving; last year, both came out in November. Expect crowds on the usual peak days. Ahead of Thanksgiving 2025, TSA projected that the Sunday after the holiday would be one of the busiest travel days in its history.

Key dates on the calendar

One more date to keep in mind: federal agencies, including TSA and the Federal Aviation Administration, are funded through Dec. 11 under a stopgap spending law passed in September. Congress would need to act by then to avoid a lapse in funding. If you are traveling in mid-December, keep an eye on the news.

Booking: know your protections

Fares change often, so compare prices and read the fare rules before you buy. Two federal rules can help if your plans shift:

• The 24-hour rule. Under 14 CFR 259.5, U.S. airlines must allow a reservation to be held at the quoted fare without payment, or canceled without penalty, for at least 24 hours after booking, as long as you book one week or more before departure.
• Refunds for airline changes. If the airline cancels your flight or significantly changes it, such as a delay of 3 hours or more on a domestic itinerary, and you choose not to travel, federal rules require an automatic refund to your original form of payment.

Bring the right ID

Travelers 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant license or another accepted ID, such as a U.S. passport or passport card, to get through security for domestic flights. Children under 18 do not need ID for travel within the U.S., according to TSA, though airlines may have their own rules.

If you do not have an acceptable ID, TSA's ConfirmID program lets you pay a $45 fee, through Pay.gov, for TSA to attempt to verify your identity. The fee covers 10 days from the travel date on your receipt, but there is no guarantee TSA can verify you. TSA recommends paying before you get to the airport.

TSA packing tips for the holidays

The 3-1-1 rule still applies: liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in carry-on bags must be in travel-size containers of 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less, in a quart-size bag. Medications and infant and child nourishment are exempt.

For holiday food, TSA's Thanksgiving guidance from last year breaks it down:

• Carry-on is fine: homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies and other baked goods, as well as solid items like meats, stuffing, fresh produce and candy.
• Check it instead: cranberry sauce, gravy, jams, preserves, maple syrup, wine and anything else you can spill, spread, spray, pump or pour that is larger than 3.4 ounces.
• Expect a closer look: food in carry-on bags often needs extra screening, so pack it where it is easy to reach.

Other tips from TSA:

• Gifts. TSA has recommended putting gifts in gift bags or boxes with tissue paper rather than wrapping them with paper and tape, because a wrapped gift that sets off an alarm may have to be unwrapped.
• Arrival time. TSA has advised arriving at least two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
• Power banks. Portable chargers with lithium-ion batteries must go in carry-on bags and are prohibited in checked luggage.
• TSA PreCheck. Children 17 and under can join an enrolled adult in the PreCheck lane for free, according to TSA.
• Questions. You can text 275-872 ("AskTSA") to reach TSA's virtual assistant. Travelers with disabilities or medical conditions can call TSA Cares at 855-787-2227; TSA has suggested calling at least 72 hours before travel.

Delays and winter weather

Before you leave for the airport, check your airline's app and the FAA's National Airspace System Status page, which lists active airport events such as ground stops, ground delay programs and deicing delays.

If you are driving, CDC's winter storm guidance recommends checking your tires, battery, brakes, heater and defroster, switching to a winter windshield-washer mixture and keeping the gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. CDC also suggests keeping an emergency kit in the car with items such as a phone charger, blankets, a windshield scraper and shovel, a flashlight, water and snacks, a first aid kit and jumper cables.

Holiday plans change. Keep confirmation numbers handy, screenshot your boarding passes and ID-related receipts, and give yourself extra time on the busiest days.