PHOENIX — If you're hitting the road ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, there is good news from Arizona Department of Transportation.
There are no planned freeway closures for the weekend of Nov. 22-25. There will be some restrictions that may cause slower traffic overnight.
- Southbound State Route 51 will be narrowed to one lane (left lanes closed) overnight in areas between Bell Road and Shea Boulevard from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday through Tuesday nights (Nov. 24-26) for pavement maintenance. Drivers should allow extra travel time and use caution when approaching and traveling through all work zones.
- North- and southbound Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) will be narrowed to three lanes at times overnight in areas between McDowell and Thunderbird roads in the West Valley from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Tuesday nights (Nov. 24-26) for lane marking. Drivers should expect slow traffic at times. Please use caution and be prepared to slow down and merge safely when approaching law enforcement and work vehicles.
A record 71.7 million people will travel by car over Thanksgiving, according to AAA. That’s 1.3 million more travelers on the road compared to last year.
For those planning to fly for the holiday you might want to plan on getting to the airport early.
TSA said Tuesday it projects it'll screen 18.3 million people in U.S. airports between Tuesday, Nov. 26, to Monday, Dec. 2, which would be a 6% jump from this time last year.
TSA also projects Sunday, Dec. 1, could break its all-time record of screening more than 3 million people at security checkpoints nationwide. That record was set earlier this year on Sunday, July 7, though the agency has screened more than 2.9 million passengers on multiple occasions in 2024.
Officials with Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport encourage people to plan ahead if they are flying out for the holiday.
- Reserve your parking before your trip at skyharbor.com/parking. Even with a reservation, give yourself time to navigate the busy lots.
- Double-check what’s in your bags. Make sure to look through your luggage and review the TSA Prohibited Items List before your flight.
- TSA has an exhaustive list of holiday-related food items that can be brought aboard a plane, including tamales (yes), alcoholic beverages more than 140 proof (no), gravy (yes, if less than or equal to 3.4 ounces/100 ml), cast iron cookware (checked bags only) and live lobsters (check with your airline.) See more at the TSA "What Can I Bring?" page for more.
- Remember to check your flight status with your airline before coming to the airport for your flight or to pick up or drop off a loved one. If you are flying domestically, arrive at least two hours prior to your flight departure and three hours if you are traveling internationally.
- Passengers can reserve a time to go through the TSA Security Checkpoint by using the PHX RESERVE program. You can schedule your time prior to arriving at the airport on our website. Reservations can be made up to six days in advance.
- Visit the interactive maps on skyharbor.com on your smartphone or tablet to find out which restaurants and shops are near your gate as well as other airport information.
- Look for our navigators dressed in purple. These volunteers serve all over the airport by providing directions, information, and friendly assistance.
- Travelers with special needs can arrange to pick up a Compassion Cacti™ lanyard prior to their trip, and even schedule a Navigator Guide to accompany them through the travel process. The Compassion Cacti™ lanyard signals to airport employees that a customer may need extra assistance or time as they pass through Phoenix Sky Harbor.
- As always, explore some local art. Both terminals showcase art exhibitions created by Arizona painters, photographers, sculptors, and other artists. These beautiful Phoenix Airport Museum exhibitions can be seen both before and after security.
You can always find the latest traffic conditions here.
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