Thanksgiving in Arizona should be about food, family, and a little desert sunshine, not sitting on the shoulder of I-10 watching tow trucks and troopers. But every year, we see the same pattern: record travel, packed freeways, and a spike in serious crashes across the state.
If you’re planning to drive to Phoenix for dinner, head north to Flagstaff for cooler weather, or make that long haul between Tucson and the Valley, you’ll be sharing the road with more drivers, more visitors, and more people who are tired, distracted, or impaired.
The National Travel Rush: Why Safety is the Top Priority
Before we zoom in on Arizona, it helps to understand the scale of the Thanksgiving travel rush nationwide. The entire country is hitting the road at the same time, and these travel patterns and risks will directly affect you. And the data confirms that this is the single busiest travel holiday of the year, and the sheer volume of drivers demands caution.
- Record Travelers: AAA projects a record 81.8 million people will travel this year, setting a new all-time high.
- The Road Dominates: Nearly 90% of all travelers (approximately 73 million drivers) will be driving. This number could be even higher, as concerns over recent flight cancellations might push some air travelers to switch to driving.
- Roadside Assistance: Last Thanksgiving, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside calls for issues like dead batteries and flat tires, showing the immense stress this holiday puts on vehicles.
- DUI Fatalities: Drunk driving killed 868 people nationwide during the Thanksgiving period between 2019–2023, accounting for over 35% of all traffic fatalities (NHTSA) during Thanksgiving.
- Worst Times to Drive: Avoid traveling during the high-stress, high-risk window of 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Wednesday and the entire day on Sunday.
That wave of traffic and risky behavior doesn’t skip Arizona. It lands directly on our interstates, our desert highways, and the same Phoenix-area freeways you use every week.
Bringing the Danger Home: Arizona’s Alarming Thanksgiving Statistics
When you layer national travel trends over Arizona’s crash and enforcement data, the picture gets even more serious.
- Record AZ Travelers: A projected 1.12 million residents will be traveling, pushing Arizona roads to maximum capacity (AAA).
- Phoenix Traffic Surge: Last year, Phoenix saw an average 46% jump in out-of-state traffic according to the Allstate Report, making it a prime hotspot for congestion and unfamiliar drivers this season.
- Fatal Crashes Remain High: The number of Fatal Crashes during the Thanksgiving period has seen a sustained high, peaking at 14 in 2022 and remaining elevated at 13 in 2023, according to the ADOT report. Even with a preliminary drop to 10 in 2024, the average crash rate since 2022 remains far too high for this holiday period.
- Widespread Enforcement: Recent 2024 enforcement efforts resulted in 7,053 Total Traffic Stops, showing police are highly visible and actively looking for violations.
- Speeding is Rife: Those stops resulted in 1,590 Speed Citations, reinforcing the ADOT finding that speeding is a leading cause of serious crashes in Arizona.
- High Impairment: Authorities caught 263 DUI drivers during the holiday, with the average arrested driver having a B.A.C. nearly double the legal limit of $0.08$ (2024 data).
The Arizona Roads to Watch
Based on ADOT and local traffic reports, you can expect the heaviest, most stressful Thanksgiving congestion on:
- Northbound I-17 north of Phoenix toward Prescott and Flagstaff
- SR-87 heading toward Payson
- I-10 in the West Valley and the stretches between Tucson and Phoenix, Phoenix and California.
Add in the usual Valley rush hour, and you can see why “just a quick drive to dinner” can turn into a high-risk situation if someone isn’t paying attention.
Your Arizona Thanksgiving Driving Safety Tips
With record traffic headed our way, preparation and timing are your best tools. Here’s a practical plan built for Arizona drivers and roads.
Before You Hit the Road
- Prep for both desert heat and high-country cold
Arizona can give you warm sun in Phoenix and freezing temperatures in Flagstaff on the same day. Before you leave:- Check tire pressure and tread. Underinflated tires on hot pavement are asking for a blowout on I-10.
- Top off oil, coolant, and washer fluid so you aren’t stranded over something preventable.
- If you’re heading north, check AZ511.gov and local forecasts. Even if the Valley is sunny, you could see slick roads, ice, or early snow at higher elevations.
- Pack warm layers, gloves, a blanket, and an ice scraper if you’re going anywhere near the high country.
- Plan around peak times (your 12-hour warning)
Arizona experience and national traffic data tell the same story:- Worst windows: roughly noon to 6 p.m. all week, with 2–8 p.m. on Wednesday and Sunday being especially brutal.
- Best windows: leave before 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m. when possible so you’re not crawling up I-17 or stuck on I-10 with everyone else.
Give yourself enough time that you don’t feel pressured to speed or weave when traffic slows.
- Be realistic about how much you can fit in
Thanksgiving week is not the time to sprint in two days. Drives in the Southwest are longer than they look on a map, and holiday traffic can double your travel time.
Pick one main region to enjoy, and leave the rest for another trip. You’ll be far safer and a lot less stressed.
On the Road & At the Wheel
- Slow down on danger corridors
With stepped-up enforcement and a history of serious crashes, treat I-17, SR-87, and I-10 with extra respect:- Stick to the speed limit and leave more following distance than you normally would.
- Expect sudden lane changes from out-of-state drivers who aren’t sure where to exit.
- If someone wants to tailgate or weave, let them go. Your goal is the dinner table, not a race.
- Go truly hands-free
Arizona’s “Hands-Off” law makes it illegal to hold or manually use a phone while driving except in limited emergencies. That law exists because distracted driving kills people here every year.- Mount your phone for navigation and set the route before you start moving.
- Let a passenger be your “phone captain” for texts, calls, and music.
- If you need to type or scroll, pull over somewhere safe first.
If you ever end up in a crash, a phone-in-hand citation can hurt your case and give the other driver’s insurance something to use against you.
- Treat impairment as a zero-tolerance issue
Thanksgiving is known for “Blackout Wednesday” and heavy holiday drinking. In Arizona, one impaired driver on I-10 or US-60 can change a family’s life forever.- Decide who’s driving before the first drink is poured.
- Use rideshare, a taxi, or stay the night if plans change.
- If your designated driver starts drinking, change the plan.
- Think twice about long night drives
Night driving in rural Arizona adds extra layers of risk: low visibility, wildlife, fatigue, and impaired drivers returning from holiday parties.
Whenever you can, plan long hauls so you:- Arrive before dark, especially on two-lane rural highways.
- Avoid setting out late at night from Flagstaff, Payson, or Tucson when you’re already full, tired, and ready for bed.
- Know how to handle Arizona-specific hazards
Dust storms and sudden weather changes are part of life here. If you hit a wall of dust:- Do not drive into it, hoping it’s “not that bad.”
- Pull as far to the right as safely possible, put the car in park, take your foot off the brake, and turn off your lights.
- Stay buckled and wait for visibility to return.
ADOT’s “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” guidance exists because pileups happen when drivers follow the taillights in front of them straight into parked cars.
Taking these steps won’t eliminate every risk, but they dramatically lower the odds that your Thanksgiving story involves an ambulance or tow truck.
If Someone Hits You: What to Do Next in Arizona
Even when you do everything right, someone else’s bad decision can still find you. If you’re in a crash over Thanksgiving, here’s a simple order of steps to protect your health and your rights:
- Call 911.
- Get police and medical responders on scene, even if the damage “doesn’t look that bad.” A crash report and early medical records are crucial if pain shows up later.
- Check injuries and move to safety.
If you can, move vehicles out of traffic, turn on hazards, and get everyone to a safer spot. - Exchange information and collect evidence.
- Names, phone numbers, insurance details, and license plates
- Photos of all vehicles, damage, road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, and visible injuries
- Contact information for any witnesses who stop to help
- Stick to facts, no guessing, no apologies.
When you speak to officers or the other driver, give clear facts about what you saw and felt. Don’t guess about speed, don’t argue fault, and avoid saying “I’m fine” if you’re not sure. - Get medical care the same day if possible.
Adrenaline and shock hide injuries. Headaches, back pain, or stiffness that show up later are common. Seeing a doctor quickly helps your body and creates a clear medical record tied to the crash. - Talk to a lawyer before talking to the other driver’s insurance.
During the holidays, adjusters may call fast, offering a small settlement “so you can move on.” Once you sign or give a recorded statement, it can be hard to fix mistakes. A lawyer can step in and handle those calls for you.
How Our Arizona Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
A Thanksgiving crash doesn’t just ruin a holiday. It can derail work, create medical bills, total your car, and leave you wondering what comes next. That’s where we come in, our car accident lawyers:
- Investigate what really happened, including speeding, DUI, distraction, or unsafe driving in dust or heavy traffic.
- Gather critical evidence—police reports, 911 audio, traffic or business-camera footage when available, and witness statements.
- Work directly with your doctors to document injuries, treatment plans, and how the crash affects your daily life.
- Deal with the insurance companies so you’re not pressured into a quick, low settlement while you’re still in pain or juggling family obligations.
- Pursue full compensation allowed by Arizona law for medical bills, lost income, damage to your vehicle, and the physical and emotional impact of the crash.
Every case is different, and nothing here is legal advice for your specific situation. But if a driver’s negligence turned your holiday into an emergency, you don’t have to figure this out on your own.
A Safer Thanksgiving Starts Before You Turn the Key
Thanksgiving travel in Arizona is going to be busy. We know more cars are coming, more visitors will be sharing our roads, and enforcement will be out in full force. The choices you make, when you leave, how fast you drive, whether you touch your phone, and whether you drink, can be the difference between a long but uneventful drive and a life-changing collision.
And if, despite your best efforts, someone else’s reckless choice leaves you injured, we’re here to help you pick up the pieces, deal with the insurance companies, and focus on healing.
We wish you and your loved ones a safe, peaceful, and truly happy Thanksgiving on Arizona’s roads this year.