Turkey Day Travel

DFW Airport lifts off as one of the nation's busiest for Thanksgiving travel

Brace yourselves: DFW Airport is going to be nuts this Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving travel is on the rise in 2015, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will see a big piece of that action.

A new report from Orbitz.com pegs DFW as one of the top 10 "busiest airports for Thanksgiving," the first time we've made that list.

According to the report, 61 percent of people plan to travel for Thanksgiving this year, up six percent from 2014. The list analyzes Orbitz.com's flight booking data of the top 50 U.S. airports over the Thanksgiving travel period, which runs from November 25–30. DFW squeaks in at No. 9. The top three busiest airports are Los Angeles International, Chicago O'Hare, and San Francisco International.

Orbitz suggests travelers book outside the busiest window.

"Wednesday, November 25, and Sunday, November 29, will be the busiest of the weekend," says Orbitz.com editor Jeanenne Tornatore. "Travelers looking to avoid the crowds should consider flying out on Thanksgiving day and coming back on Monday, November 30, both the least busy of the holiday weekend.”

The report also lists the least busy airports. If stops at Eppley Airfield in Omaha or Kahului Airport in Maui are on your itinerary, then congratulations, they're the two least busy in the country.

If you find yourself with time to kill, DFW has plenty of restaurants, as well as a perk that Orbitz notes for DFW: Minute Suites at Gate D23. These 10 sound-proof, private suites are kitted out with a daybed and Wi-Fi-ready computer, along with DirecTV access. Shower rooms and premier suites offer a bigger space for families or multiple travelers. According to Orbitz, 55 percent of travelers would allot themselves more time at the airport if they knew there was something to do while they wait.

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'Hidden gem' Texas city soars onto 2026 top travel destinations list

Photo by Grace Estrada on Unsplash

El Paso was named one of the "Rising Star Destinations" to book for a vacation in 2026.

A new 2026 Travel Trends Forecast from vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo has unveiled the top U.S. cities that are on travelers' minds for the next year, and one unsuspecting far West Texas city was included on the list: El Paso.

El Paso was named one of six most sought-after "Rising Star Destinations" in the Southwest and Mountain West regions. Search trends revealed traveler interest in El Paso skyrocketed 191 percent year-over-year, with vacationers pining after "desert landscapes" and "frontier-style towns with modern Western flair."

To determine where travelers are planning on booking their 2026 vacations, HomeToGo surveyed 1,000 American adults from November 26-28, 2025 to discover which locales offer "both affordability and under-the-radar appeal." Search interest and price insights were based on observed searches executed via HomeToGo's website from August 1-November 15, 2025, with a check-in date during 2026.

The reports findings show the vacation accommodations in El Paso cost a median $62.21 per night, earning the city a reputation for being more affordable than Texas' major cities like Dallas or Houston. HomeToGo also said travelers are "increasingly turning to smaller [Southwestern] towns" to find accommodations rather than booking a stay at a large resort.

Additionally, younger travelers like Gen Zers and Millennials are driving the shift toward these hidden gem destinations after collecting inspiration from social media sites like Instagram and TikTok.

"Western destinations are seeing a rise in interest, fueled by a broader cultural moment that has placed such locations firmly in the spotlight," the report's author wrote. "In 2025, artists such as Beyoncé and Sabrina Carpenter brought fresh takes on the visual language of country music firmly into the mainstream, with this movement further amplified across social media platforms."

There's plenty to do in the self-proclaimed "Sun City," such as hiking in Franklin Mountains State Park or Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visiting local museums, and much more.

Other top "Neo-Western Revival" destinations to visit in 2026 include:

Marana, Arizona
Cañon City, Colorado
Yucca Valley, California
Queen Creek, Arizona
Bisbee, Arizona

"According to the survey findings, 76 percent of U.S. travelers plan to go on vacation in 2026, with over a quarter (26 percent) actively booking longer and more extravagant breaks," the report said. "Fifty-seven percent plan to spend more on vacations in comparison to 2025, indicating that the appetite for travel is clearly growing."

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