Where Is the Best Place to Travel for Thanksgiving in the USA?
November 06, 2025
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular events in the US and the official start of the holiday season. Every year on the fourth Thursday of November, families and groups from all over the country get together to say thank you for the past year. It's been done this way since 1621, and over the years, it's changed to fit new trends like "Friendsgiving" and "Black Friday."
It's also one of the busiest times of the year to travel around this holiday. Eighty million Americans travel at least fifty miles away from home every year. Most of them are visiting family, but many use the holiday as a chance to take a much-needed break. This article lists our picks for the top 10 cities and areas in the United States as the best places to escape for Thanksgiving 2025.
What does Thanksgiving mean?
American Thanksgiving has been a holiday since 1621. The first people to celebrate it were the Pilgrims, who came to America from Europe and asked the Native Americans to join them for a feast as a thank you for helping to secure the crops. Like Christmas, this holiday is all about spending time with family and friends, watching special TV shows, and having a big dinner with everyone.
Ten of the best places in the US to spend Thanksgiving in 2025
In order to show off the best of its culture, each place changes how the holiday is celebrated. Here are 10 places to visit that have something for every type of tourist, whether they want to ski, walk on the beach, or get away to the mountains to explore the great outdoors.
1. New York City
It's possible that New York is one of the best places in the US to spend Thanksgiving. It's famous for holding the famous Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade, which draws 3 million people to the streets of Manhattan to see the huge floats carrying things like the Bronx Zoo, the newest Disney movies, and must-see Broadway shows.
It's possible that New York is one of the best places in the US to spend Thanksgiving. For Thanksgiving flights bookings, you can contact First Fly Travel.
As with any holiday weekend, Thanksgiving weekend in New York City will be the busiest. However, to meet the higher demand, Broadway shows and other attractions often add more shows and stay open longer.
2. Pennsylvania City, Philadelphia
What do you know? The oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the United States is in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a great place to spend the holidays if you want to get into the spirit. It's a great place for a family vacation, and there are lots of ways to learn about American history, like walking through Independence Hall or going back in time at the Museum of the American Revolution. Taking the train to Philadelphia is a great way to relax and unwind. In case of Thanksgiving flight deals, consider calling First Fly Travel.
There are lots of chances to learn about the American past, making it a great place for a family vacation.
3. Tennessee City, Nashville
The city of Nashville has been shooting up the lists of the best places to visit, thanks to the rising fame of its country music scene. Nashville has a lot of different kinds of food for Thanksgiving, as well as standard Southern fare. All of it is served with the warm southern hospitality that you'd expect from the area. Not only does Music City have some of the best Thanksgiving meals in the U.S., but it also has some of the best Southern BBQ.
One city that keeps going up and up in lists of the best places to visit is Nashville.
4. The Californian Napa Valley
Napa Valley in California is the place to go for some of the most beautiful fall foliage in the United States. You can also have your Thanksgiving dinner there with a drink of wine. Although this area is known for being wine country in the United States, it's also a great place to go on vacation for a spa break to relax and unwind.
Napa Valley in California is a great choice if you want to take it easy.
5. Utah's Park City
Thanksgiving isn't just a holiday; it's also the start of ski season, and Park City is the best place to hit the slopes. You can skateboard through the mountains or take a lesson to learn how to ski. You'll be on the slopes during the day, but you can enjoy the comfort of a winter ski lodge by eating a standard meal or drinking hot chocolate.
You'll be on the slopes during the day, but you can enjoy the comfort of a winter ski lodge at night.
6. Hawaii
As Thanksgiving approaches, we often think of cozy sweaters and fall leaves. November is one of the best months to go because it's "off season," which means there are fewer tourists and more wildlife, like humpback whales.
On the beach in Hawaii, you can switch out your pumpkin spice latte for a drink.
There are a lot of places to eat classic Thanksgiving dinner, and you can do the "Turkey Trot" on the beach. There are many places on the island that will have Thanksgiving buffets and set menus if you want to feel like you're back home while you're in the sun.
7. The North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains
Before it gets cold in the winter, Thanksgiving is a great time to spend time outside. The Blue Ridge Mountains make up about a third of the Appalachian Mountains and are the oldest mountain area in the country. Hiking trails, mountain trips, and routes are easy to find and great for people of all fitness levels who love being outside.
The Blue Ridge Mountains make up about a third of the Appalachian Mountains and are the oldest mountain area in the country.
For most trips through the Blue Ridge Mountains, the trip starts in Asheville, which has a historic downtown area with farm-to-table restaurants, patio eating, and independent distilleries.
Take your Thanksgiving vacation to the next level by visiting Biltmore Estate, which is one of the biggest homes in the United States and was built by George Vanderbilt. This 8,000-acre estate has a lot to do in the fall, including an exhibition about Tutankhamun and six formal and outdoor gardens to check out.
8. Louisiana's New Orleans
Everyone should go to New Orleans at least once. It's a lively mix of the best things that make American cities special, and you can see how African, Caribbean, French, and Spanish cultures have affected the whole city. As soon as you get there, there's a magic that makes it easy to become part of the culture. In the city where jazz was born, you can enjoy Creole food while listening to old jazz songs.
Your first stop should be the French Quarter. Next, go to New Orleans City Park.
It's a great place for a "friendsgiving" vacation because it has something for everyone. Start your trip in the French Quarter, and then go to New Orleans City Park to join the "Turkey Trot" for a half-mile or five miles.
9. Williamsburg, North Carolina
Williamsburg is the best place to go if you like history or want to learn more about the past of Thanksgiving. It's where the first Thanksgiving took place, on December 4, 1621, at Berkeley Plantation, which is on the James River. Williamsburg was the site of many important events in colonial times. The town provides a full experience that makes learning about American history, from the Jamestown Settlement to the Battle of Yorktown, fun for both adults and children.
A lot of important events in colonial times happened in Williamsburg, and the town is a great place to experience them all.
Colonial Williamsburg is known as the "town where history lives" because there are so many historical places for people to see.
Bring your most comfortable shoes for the trip because you will be walking around a lot today as you visit the town's interactive shows, historic sites, and museums.
10. It's Aspen, Colorado
You don't have to go to Park City to have a great Thanksgiving ski trip. If you want a more relaxed ski experience, Aspen is the best place to go. Most of the locations opened for the season over the holiday weekend. Aspen is a year-round place known for its world-class skiing and outdoor activities. It is famous for its ski resorts. There are more than 5,300 acres of mountain slopes for skiers of all skill levels. Thanksgiving weekend is usually the first busy weekend of the season. "Thanksjibbing" at Snowmass Base Village marks the beginning of Aspen's winter season.
Aspen is a place that people visit all year because of its great sports and outdoor activities.
Not into sports outside? Do not worry! The free Aspen Art Museum and the Wheeler Opera House are just a few of the high-class things that Aspen has to offer as a vacation spot. You can also take a walk of the historic buildings in and around Aspen with a knowledgeable guide from the Aspen Historical Society. Even though Colorado is dry, the sun will usually be out in November; you'll still want to bring your winter woolies because the city is 8,000 feet above sea level.
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Plan your Thanksgiving trip with First Fly Travel
We're here to help you plan a stress-free Thanksgiving, whether you're moving your usual turkey dinner to the ski slopes or adding a weekend trip to your family reunion. Are you looking for more vacation ideas? Or, looking for the Best Flight Deals on Black Friday, we can help you with that too. Reach out to our agents and avail your tickets at the lowest prices.
