How busy do Texas roads get at Thanksgiving?
Very. For Thanksgiving 2025, AAA Texas projected a record number of Texans traveling at least 50 miles from home, and most of them by car, according to FOX 4's report on the forecast.
Those are last year's projections. AAA Texas typically releases the new forecast a week or two before the holiday. Either way, you're sharing US-75, SH-121, and the Sam Rayburn Tollway with a lot of other drivers trying to get out of town at the same time.
What can you check on your car at home before a trip?
These take about 15 minutes in the driveway and need nothing more than a tire gauge. They follow NHTSA's road trip checklist.
| Check | How to do it | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tire pressure | Check all four and the spare when the tires are cold. Fill to the number on the driver's door jamb label. | 5 min |
| Tire condition | Look for bulges, cuts, nails, or uneven wear across the tread. | 2 min |
| Lights | Have someone watch while you test headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and flashers. | 3 min |
| Wipers and washer fluid | Replace blades that streak. Top off the washer reservoir. | 2 min |
| Oil and coolant levels | Check the oil dipstick and the coolant reservoir marks with the engine cool. Never open a hot radiator cap. | 3 min |
| Recalls | Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov/Recalls. Open recalls are fixed by the dealer. | 2 min |
If the battery warning light has been flickering on, don't wait for the trip to find out why. Our guide on what to do when your battery light comes on explains what it usually means.
Which pre-trip checks need a mechanic?
Anything that needs the car on a lift, the wheels off, or a test meter. These are the items we go through on a pre-trip check.
Battery test
A load test shows whether a battery that starts fine today will start at a cold rest stop.
All servicesBelts and hoses
Cracks, bulges, soft spots, and worn belts that could let go on the highway.
Cooling systemCooling system
Radiator, coolant condition, and signs of leaks before a long run at highway speed.
Radiator repairOil and fluids
An oil change if you're close to due, plus transmission and brake fluid checks.
Oil changeWarning lights
A scan for stored codes if any light is on, so a small issue doesn't become a roadside one.
Check engine lightHow do you fit a car check into a busy holiday week?
Work backward from the day you leave. The shop visit goes first, because it's the one that might turn up a part to order.
Shop check
- Book the pre-trip check, or use the after-hours key drop.
- Get any due oil change done at the same visit.
- Run your VIN for recalls.
Driveway check
- Tire pressure, spare included.
- Lights, wipers, and washer fluid.
- Pack the roadside kit.
Quick look
- Check under the car for fresh drips.
- Glance at all four tires.
- Watch the dash for warning lights as you start up.
Traffic matters too. For 2025, AAA Texas said roads would be most congested on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, with heavy return traffic the Sunday after. Leaving earlier, or coming back Saturday, can save a lot of time on US-75.
What should you do if a warning light comes on during the drive?
Red usually means stop soon, and yellow usually means get it looked at. Your owner's manual explains each light for your vehicle, so keep it in the glove box.
| Light | What to do | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature gauge in the red | Find a safe spot, park, and let the engine cool. Leave the radiator cap closed until it does. | Stop |
| Red oil pressure light | Get off the road and switch the engine off. Running without oil pressure can ruin an engine in minutes. | Stop |
| Check engine light, flashing | Usually a serious misfire. Slow down and get off the highway safely. | Stop |
| Battery or charging light | Turn off extra electrical loads and head for a safe stop soon. | Soon |
| Check engine light, solid | Not an emergency on its own. Have it scanned when you can. | Soon |
| Tire pressure light | Stop at the next exit and look at all four tires with your gauge. | Soon |
Our posts on the engine temperature warning light and the check engine light go deeper on the two that worry drivers most.
Leave for the holiday knowing it's ready
Book a pre-trip check at our Curtis Dr shop. We'll go through brakes, battery, belts, hoses, cooling, and fluids, and give you a straight answer on what needs attention.
Financing available through Synchrony Car Care.
What should you keep in the car for a holiday road trip?
NHTSA suggests carrying a basic emergency kit on any long drive. A small bin in the trunk holds all of it.
- Phone charger and a cable that fits your car
- First aid kit
- Jumper cables
- Tire gauge, jack, and a properly inflated spare
- Flares or reflective triangles
- Water and snacks that keep