What we're covering
• A busy travel day: This year’s Thanksgiving travel period is expected to be the busiest in 15 years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. About 73 million are projected to hit the road, with an estimated 6 million set to take to the skies.
• Winter weather: It’s getting cold for some parts of the country as a blast of Arctic air moves east, bringing snow and gusty winds with it. But traveling through airports has been pretty smooth so far, with only a few disruptions due to weather.
• Expert advice: CNN correspondent Pete Muntean, who covers aviation and transportation, is joining us today. Follow his reports under the CNN Guide tab.
• Holiday activities: We’ll also have plenty of suggestions for what to do over the holidays. And tomorrow, CNN’s special broadcast “Thanksgiving in America” will feature highlights from parades across the country.
Your guide to the Thanksgiving football games
For football fans, there’s nothing quite as welcome as walking into a Thanksgiving gathering and hearing the game on in the background as the smell of a delicious meal wafts toward you.
Here’s the NFL slate that’s in store this year:
1 p.m. ET — Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions:
The Lions are a staple of Thanksgiving football, hosting a game on the holiday each year. And that’s a bounty in recent seasons, because Detroit is one of the league’s most exciting teams under coach Dan Campbell.
The Packers are coming off a victory that showed their defense — led by star pass-rusher Micah Parsons — is a force to be reckoned with in the NFC playoff hunt.
If each team brings its A-game, this could be the best matchup of the day.
4:30 p.m. ET — Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys:
The Chiefs might be your in with your Swiftie niece or nephew — and they might be hitting their stride after an up-and-down start to the season.
The Cowboys always offer the potential for an entertaining shoot-out, given their poor defensive play and an explosive offense.
This game probably overlaps with the most Thanksgiving meals. If you’re a “no screens at the table” family, take a page out of my late grandfather’s book: He used to say he’s “checking on the stuffing” in the kitchen and come back to whisper the score in my ear.
8:20 p.m. ET — Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens:
This matchup is expected to mark the long-awaited return of Bengals superstar quarterback Joe Burrow. A matchup against the Ravens’ own face of the franchise, Lamar Jackson, would make this appointment viewing.
Grab that second slice of pie and tune in for a classic AFC North rivalry game.
Here’s a sneak peek at what to expect at tomorrow's Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will kick off tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. ET in New York City, and you can expect to see some classic favorites along with new attractions too.
The parade will feature 34 balloons, 28 performers, 28 floats, 11 marching bands, four balloonicles, 33 clow crews, nine performance groups and 14 specialty units, according to the Macy’s website.
Spectators can expect to see balloon debuts from Buzz Lightyear, PAC-MAN, Shrek’s Onion Carriage and Mario by Nintendo, according to the news release. Derpy Tiger and Sussie from Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” will join the line-up as a mid-sized balloon and balloonicle as well.
If you’re more into performances, the line-up is star studded, including an appearance from Cynthia Erivo, who portrays Elphaba in the film adaptation of “Wicked.”
See more below about the new movie.
Dorothy’s slippers aren't ruby-colored in “Wicked: For Good," but it’s not a mistake. The silver shoes are actually quite a bit closer to L. Frank Baum’s original description of “odd little silver boots," rather than the technicolor ruby slippers we're all familiar with from the 1939 film adaptation.
CNN's Thanksgiving Quiz 2025 is live: See how much you know about the holiday
Where did the Pilgrims celebrate the first Thanksgiving?
Which US president issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation?
Which state raises the most turkeys?
Think you know these Thanksgiving facts and foods? Take CNN’s full Thanksgiving quiz here.
Parade balloons to battle wind gusts in NYC
New York City will see temperatures drop into the 40s tonight, with gusty northwest winds sticking around through Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Blustery conditions will make crowds shiver at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where wind chill temperatures will stay in the 30s. Gusts could reach 20 to 30 mph at times. That’s below the threshold for grounding the big character balloons, but handlers may need to keep a tighter grip.
At least the weather should stay dry, with peeks of sun for the crowds lining the parade route.
👋 Hi, Pete Muntean here.
About 73 million travelers are hitting the roads for the Thanksgiving holiday this year, while 8 million are flying, and only 1.2 million are taking trains.
My colleagues looked at what could be different if America had high-speed trains.
Cozy up on the couch or at the airport with these Thanksgiving movies
Whether you’re stuck in the airport or looking for something to put on after dinner, we rounded up some picks for Thanksgiving movies to set the mood:
- “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”: Holiday travel madness starring Steve Martin and John Candy, need we say more.
- “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”: This animated classic is fun for the whole family.
- “Friendsgiving”: Two friends host a chaotic Thanksgiving dinner.
- “Son in Law”: Rebecca returns home to her small farm town for Thanksgiving break with her party-animal best friend.
- “Thanksgiving”: In this slasher, a killer is terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts. Bonus points: Patrick Dempsey plays the sheriff.
- “The Blind Side”: It’s a movie about football and family, two big parts of Thanksgiving:
- “Home For the Holidays”: Claudia heads to visit her family for Thanksgiving, where she’s met with characters and crazy antics in this 1995 classic.
- “You’ve Got Mail”: Book superstore magnate Joe and independent book shop owner Kathleen fall in love, thanks to the anonymity of the internet. The ever-quotable film guarantees a “Happy Thanksgiving back,” indeed.
Here's what will be open and closed tomorrow on Thanksgiving
It can be confusing to navigate what stores and offices will be open on Thanksgiving Day, or who is modifying their hours.
We’ve got your back in case you need to pop out at the last minute.
Here’s an overview:
- Expect government offices and buildings to be closed. This includes Department of Motor Vehicles offices, courts and the US Postal Service. FedEx and UPS will also be closed for the day.
- In need of last-minute Thanksgiving essentials? Costco, Walmart, Target and Trader Joe’s will all be closed tomorrow. Instead, try Ralphs, some ShopRite locations, Wegmans or Whole Foods, which will all be open — though check for modified hours.
- Banks and the stock market will be closed too. Online banking and ATM service will be uninterrupted.
- Pharmacies will vary by location. Both CVS and Walgreens’ 24-hour locations will stay open, while CVS locations will have reduced hours and the rest of Walgreens stores will be closed.
Icing leads to delays of over an hour at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
Flights coming to Chicago O’Hare International Airport are delayed this morning due to icing, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Departures to Chicago OHare International are delayed avg. 68 mins. due to snow or ice,” according to a notice posted by the FAA.
It's smooth sailing so far at the world's busiest airport
Conditions at the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, are very calm and smooth this morning.
All five security checkpoints are operating, and the longest wait time thus far has been about 15 minutes. The main domestic checkpoint right now is only about a 5-minute wait, according to the airport.
Travelers moving through the airport tell CNN they’ve had no problem today.
“A little more traffic than usual, but the flights were actually pretty smooth,” Skylar Slayer, who just arrived in Atlanta from Boston, told CNN. “I got to the airport three hours in advance, but it still went pretty smooth, and there was no cancellations, as far as I know.”
Anne Marie, who also arrived from Boston, told CNN “there will be concerns” traveling back on Sunday. “But we’re here, and what happens Sunday happens Sunday,” she said.
👋 Hi, Pete Muntean here.
It’s interesting that the Department of Transportation has launched a campaign this year urging passengers to be courteous. Let’s hope it’s a success.
There have been more than 13,800 unruly passenger incidents since 2021, the department says. And since 2019, the number of in-flight outbursts has skyrocketed 400%.
“There are things you can do behind the wheel and at the airport to make it better for everyone,” AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz told me. “You can’t control delays and cancellations and traffic, but you can control when you leave the house and how you behave.”
Tips include giving yourself plenty of time to get where you are going since traffic will be bad, taking a snack, avoiding staying up late when packing the night before, and understanding that everyone is just trying to get home to see their families.
Here’s the Department of Transportation video message from Duffy:
Your Thanksgiving playlist for everything from traffic jams to cooking
Tens of millions of people are expected to drive to their Thanksgiving plans this year, which could mean hitting some traffic.
If you find yourself in one of these very frustrating bumper-to-bumper logjams, you might need some musical bops to get you to the next exit.
Thanksgiving is all about family, friends and being grateful for the blessings in our lives.
So here is a list of holiday songs to make the journey more enjoyable:
- “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge
- “Family is Family” by Kacey Musgraves
- “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
- “Coming Home” by Leon Bridges
- “Home” by Phillip Phillips
- “Homeward Bound” by Simon & Garfunkel
- “Thanksgiving Prayer” by Johnny Cash
- “I’ve Got Plenty to be Thankful For” by Bing Crosby
- “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive” by Travis Tritt
- “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” by Marvin Gaye
- “By Your Side” by Sade
- “Crowded Table” by The Highwomen
- “Gratitude” by Earth, Wind & Fire
- “Coat of Many Colors” by Dolly Parton
- “Sweater Weather” by The Neighbourhood
- “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan
- “Pass the Peas” by the JBs
- “Mashed Potato Time” by Dee Dee Sharp
- “Autumn Leaves” by Nat King Cole
- “Turkey Chase” by Bob Dylan
- “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars
- “Thanksgiving Theme” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio from “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” (of course, and put on the “Great Pumpkin Waltz” too, while you’re at it)
As millions of people prepare to fly, here are some etiquette reminders
Everyone’s a bit antsy when traveling the day before Thanksgiving, and planes are particularly close quarters. According to experts, these simple things can help everyone have a nicer day.
- Airline staff and flight attendants are in the midst of some long days. Small acts like saying hello when you get on the plane, paying attention during the security demonstration, and using your words rather than your hands if you need their attention as they pass by can go a long way.
- Be nice to your plane-neighbors, and follow the unspoken rules. The middle seat gets both armrests, keep your shoes on, don’t bring particularly odorous food, and even if you’re on the pro-reclining side of one of air travel’s most controversial debates, put your seat forward during meal service.
- Traveling with young kids is stressful enough without the judgement of other passengers. Be patient with parents doing their best. That being said, parents, pay attention. Don’t let your kid run down the aisles by themselves or kick the seat in front of them while you’re distracted.
CNN’s Lila Dominus contributed to this post.
Thanksgiving will serve up some snow and a big temperature drop
A blast of Arctic cold air is sweeping across the country just as family and friends take to the roads and skies to gather for Thanksgiving.
Cold plunge: Chilly temperatures have already arrived in the Midwest and Plains, along with a winter storm that has delivered more than a half-foot of snow and strong winds across parts of the Dakotas, Minnesota and northern Wisconsin since yesterday.
Minneapolis-St. Paul saw its first snow of the season overnight, along with wind gusts over 40 mph.
Temperatures will run up to 20 degrees below average for much of the central and eastern US by Thursday or Friday. Highs in the 20s and 30s are expected across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes on Thanksgiving, and many Southern cities will wake up to a freeze by Friday morning.
Lake-effect snow: The storm will also kick lake-effect snow into high gear across the Great Lakes today through Friday as it pushes cold air over the warmer lake water. Narrow snow bands could make localized travel tricky where they set up.
Farther east, lake-effect snow warnings are posted for up to 20 inches of snow and wind gusts to 50 mph from northeast Ohio to northwest Pennsylvania and southwest New York.
Blizzard warnings: In northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, snow totals could be as high as 20 to 30 inches.
Read the full forecast here.
Here are some steps to take to make sure your luggage arrives safely with you
Traveling and anxious you might lose your baggage? Here’s how to stack the odds in your favor that your luggage arrives safely, and what to do if you end up getting the short end of the stick.
- Firstly, if your Thanksgiving plans are short enough that you can make do with a carry-on, this is your safest best. The airline can’t lose what you never gave them. Carry-ons are particularly worth considering if you have a layover, which increases the odds of lost luggage.
- If you do end up checking bags, take the necessary precautions. Make sure you not only have an ID tag on the outside of your luggage but on the inside, too. And make sure you know the size, make and color of your suitcase. Many travelers have also invested in trackers, like AirTags. Some airlines offer baggage tracking, but these will help you keep tabs on your baggage even if the airline doesn’t.
- Do yourself a favor and get to the airport early. Bags checked at the last minute are more likely to be lost. At the airport, also double check that your printed tags have the right destination.
- If you still end up losing your bag, deep breath. File a claim with the airline, look into their compensation policy and hold them accountable. The Department of Transportation has guidance on what you’re entitled to if an airline loses your luggage.
CNN’s Lila Dominus contributed to this post.
👋 Hi readers, Pete Muntean here again.
We just told you that the Federal Aviation Administration halted all flights bound to Reagan National Airport here in DC due to low cloud ceilings until 8:30 a.m. ET.
But you wouldn’t know it from the look of things at the Terminal 2 North Security Checkpoint. The lines are getting longer here — maybe the busiest we’ve seen since yesterday morning.
And parking spots are getting hard to come by. One level of the Terminal 1 hourly parking garage is already full.
Use these tips to save fuel — and money — while you're driving this week
About 90% of Thanksgiving travelers are going to be driving this holiday period, according to a spokesperson from AAA.
And with the average price of gas at just more than $3, how you drive could save or cost you money.
Here are a few things drivers can do to save fuel, according to AAA:
- Reduce your speed: Driving the speed limit can save you money. “On the highway, aerodynamic drag causes fuel economy to drop off significantly as speeds increase above 50 mph,” AAA says. Cruise control to help maintain a constant speed and save fuel, as long as the weather allows.
- Smooth it out: Avoid slamming down the gas and accelerating hard. Accelerating smoothly “allows the automatic transmission to upshift into higher gears sooner, reducing engine rpm and saving fuel.”
- Coast to a stop: As you approach a red light, take your foot off the gas and let your car coast down to a slower speed before braking. AAA also recommends avoiding extended idling, even to warm up an engine when it’s cold.
- Service check: Keeping your car in good condition can also save you fuel. Things like under-inflated tires can reduce fuel economy and can also be dangerous on your road trip. Take off features like roof racks and special carriers when you’re not using them to reduce the weight of your car. A heavier vehicle takes more fuel to accelerate.
Weather causes ground stop at DC airport
Flights coming into Ronald Reagan Washington National are grounded due to low ceilings this morning, as weather continues to impede Thanksgiving travel in parts of the country.
The ground stop is in place until 8:30 a.m. ET, according to the FAA.
👋 Hi readers, this is Pete Muntean. I cover aviation and transportation as well as general assignment stories for CNN. Here’s my bio.
It’s going to be another busy travel day today and, as with yesterday, I’m here to help you navigate the news we’re covering.
The past two months have been dominated by the air traffic problems caused by the government shutdown.
But it’s looking good for this week. And yesterday turned out to be relatively smooth sailing at most airports, although the weather is a factor in some parts of the country and will likely impact driving conditions.
Overall, AAA projects more than 81 million people are traveling for the holiday this year and about 90% of them – 73 million people – are driving.
So good luck and stay safe out there.
I’ll be back soon with more updates.
