Overlook the chaos of December: Thanksgiving may simply be the neatest (and most underrated) time to sneak in a visit. The lengthy weekend presents an ideal window for a fast escape earlier than peak vacation crowds and worth surges hit. And this 12 months, vacationers have much more cause to present thanks. In response to knowledge from Kayak, general journey prices are trending barely decrease than final 12 months, with common flight costs down roughly 2 p.c, resort charges down 3 p.c, and rental automobile costs down 8 p.c.
To uncover one of the best Thanksgiving journey offers, Kayak analyzed thousands and thousands of flight and resort searches made between March 1 and Aug. 31, 2025, for journey between Nov. 21 and 30. Costs replicate common round-trip financial system airfare and nightly resort charges for traditional double rooms—and whereas financial savings can’t be assured, the outcomes communicate for themselves. Almost each vacation spot on this 12 months’s record is available in underneath $600 whole for common flight and resort prices, with all however one situated within the U.S.
Curious which locations made the minimize? From crisp fall escapes in Minneapolis and Boston to sunshine-filled weekends in Las Vegas, these wallet-friendly picks show Thanksgiving may simply be the right time to journey.
Seattle, Washington
Gautier Houba/Journey + Leisure
Mixed common flight and resort value: $519
A Thanksgiving journey to the Emerald Metropolis means sweeping skyline views framed by snowcapped peaks, cozy espresso retailers tucked alongside cobblestone streets, and, in fact, loads of Pacific Northwest taste. The season formally begins the Saturday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 29), when Pike Place Market hosts its annual Magic within the Market celebration—full with the lighting of the market’s towering Christmas tree, festive décor, pictures with Santa, and distributors providing seasonal meals and handmade items.
Swap turkey for fresh-caught seafood at The Crab Pot, Elliott’s Oyster Home, or Native Tide; alternatively, heat up with a latte at Elm Espresso Roasters or Analog Espresso and spend a wet afternoon on the Seattle Artwork Museum.
Denver, Colorado
Jacob/Adobe Inventory
Mixed common flight and resort value: $543
In Denver, enjoyable and free Thanksgiving festivities abound, from the Mile Excessive Drone Present, the place 400 drones mild up the sky, to the 110-foot-tall Mile Excessive Tree. Close by, Cherry Creek North’s Winter Wanderland glows with practically 1,000,000 lights, festive pop-up bars, and a vacation market that includes greater than 40 native artisans. Don’t miss local-loved vacation classics just like the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Blossoms of Mild or the Denver Zoo’s Zoo Lights, which covers 80 acres in additional than three million twinkling bulbs.
Exterior town, climbing trails like Crimson Rocks Path and Lair o’ the Bear Park Path are blissfully uncrowded this time of 12 months, and early ski season begins simply an hour away in resorts like Breckenridge and Keystone.
Atlanta, Georgia
novikat/Adobe Inventory
Mixed common flight and resort value: $570
It is just about inconceivable to be bored in Atlanta, particularly through the busy vacation season. On Turkey Day, break a sweat on the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon and 5K, or cheer from the sidelines with a espresso in hand. A lot of Atlanta’s prime points of interest stay open, together with the world-famous Georgia Aquarium, house to whale sharks, manta rays, and beluga whales, and a whole bunch of different marine animals. You can even kick off the season a bit early at Stone Mountain Christmas, the place thousands and thousands of lights, vacation mild exhibits, and a scenic practice journey create a festive escape. For dinner, skip the cooking and reserve a desk on the Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead, the place company dine within the elegant Astor Ballroom and revel in wine pairings alongside conventional vacation fare. Afterward, stroll via the Backyard Lights, Vacation Nights show on the Atlanta Botanical Backyard, the place dazzling installations mild up the night time.
San Francisco, California
Don Eim/Journey + Leisure
Mixed common flight and resort value: $571
A visit to San Francisco is at all times a good suggestion—particularly over Thanksgiving, when vacationers can discover town at a extra relaxed tempo. Many prime points of interest stay open, together with Aquarium of the Bay, the colourful San Francisco Botanical Backyard, and the beloved California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. In fact, a stroll throughout the Golden Gate Bridge is a should, as is a day journey to Muir Woods Nationwide Monument to face beneath towering, centuries-old redwoods. When starvation calls, head to Tommy’s Joynt—a longtime San Francisco establishment that gives carved meats, turkey, and gravy in its traditional cafeteria-style setting.
Boston, Massachusetts
Christopher Larson/Journey + Leisure
Mixed common flight and resort value: $585
For historical past buffs, there’s no higher place to spend Thanksgiving than Boston. Not solely is that this metropolis steeped in American historical past, nevertheless it’s additionally only a quick drive from Plymouth, the place the vacation itself dates again to the 1600s. In Boston correct, spend the lengthy weekend strolling the Freedom Path, a 2.5-mile route that winds previous landmarks just like the Previous North Church, the Paul Revere Home, and Faneuil Corridor, earlier than taking a day journey south to see Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower II, and the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, which deliver early New England historical past to life. Again in Boston, lace up your skates on the Frog Pond on Boston Widespread or browse native distributors at Snowport, the Seaport District’s festive vacation market full of artisan items, rooftop igloos, out of doors video games, and extra.
Chicago, Illinois
Christopher Larson/Journey + Leisure
Mixed common flight and resort value: $593
New York Metropolis might get all of the thunder in terms of Thanksgiving parades, however Chicago’s personal, which dates again to 1934, brings loads of vacation cheer as balloons, bands, and native performers march down State Avenue. However the enjoyable does not finish right here. Glide throughout the ice at Millennium Park, browse handmade items on the Christkindlmarket, or absorb sweeping skyline views from the 360 CHICAGO Statement Deck. Sick of turkey? Head to considered one of Chicago’s most beloved deep-dish joints, together with big-name manufacturers like Giordano’s and Lou Malnati’s or native favorites like Pequod’s or Bartoli’s.
Las Vegas, Nevada
f11photo/Adobe Inventory
Mixed common flight and resort value: $597
In Las Vegas, the get together by no means stops—even on Thanksgiving. In truth, a few of the metropolis’s finest eating places, together with Bazaar Meat by José Andrés, roll out elevated vacation menus for the event. Wander via the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ seasonal show, attempt your luck at one of many metropolis’s always-open casinos, or catch a present—many resident productions, like “O” by Cirque du Soleil and Michael Jackson ONE, supply Thanksgiving exhibits. You can even get a head begin on vacation procuring at The Discussion board Outlets at Caesars Palace, the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, or The Outlets at Crystals, all decked out in festive décor. Earlier than the night time’s over, cease by the Fountains of Bellagio to observe the long-lasting water present dance to vacation music beneath town’s glittering skyline.
Mexico Metropolis, Mexico
Gautier Houba/Journey + Leisure
Mixed common flight and resort value: $599
Mexico Metropolis is the one worldwide vacation spot to make this record, and it serves as the right escape for vacationers seeking to commerce turkey and stuffing for tacos and mezcal. The metropolis is a paradise for meals lovers, boasting an array of Michelin-starred eating places, together with Pujol, typically ranked among the many world’s finest, and Quintonil, famend for its modern tackle Mexican delicacies. Between meals, stroll leafy neighborhoods like Roma, Polanco, and Condesa, unwind within the huge Chapultepec Park—one of many largest city inexperienced areas within the Western Hemisphere—or float alongside the colourful canals of UNESCO-listed Xochimilco. Artwork lovers can spend a day at Museo Frida Kahlo or Museo Jumex, each important stops for a dose of native tradition.
