Allstate Thanksgiving Driver Report: What drivers should know before hitting the road

High-speed driving jumps nearly 200% Thanksgiving morning, according to Allstate Drivewise data, with new insights showing when and where drivers should take extra care.

Key takeaways:

• Allow extra time. Driving at 80 mph or faster increased nearly 200% Thanksgiving morning compared with a typical Thursday morning.
• Prepare for the trip home. The Monday after Thanksgiving was Allstate Roadside's second-busiest day of 2025, with service events 52% above the daily average.
• Know your habits and options for help. Drivewise® gives enrolled customers personalized feedback on their driving. Allstate Roadside provides help with towing, jump-starts, tire changes and other roadside needs, with membership and pay-per-use options for drivers with or without Allstate insurance.¹

CHICAGO, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanksgiving travelers went farther and drove faster last year, with some of the biggest changes coming late Wednesday night and Thanksgiving morning, according to Drivewise data from the latest Allstate Driver Report.

Allstate analyzed more than 44 million Drivewise trips as well as Allstate Roadside service events from Thanksgiving 2025, comparing them with typical travel periods to help drivers understand what to watch for and how to prepare.

Brian Dieringer, president of Allstate Roadside:
"Allstate wants to help drivers get where they're going safely. Give yourself extra time, watch your speed and check your car before you leave. Drivewise can help enrolled customers understand their driving habits, and Allstate Roadside offers membership or pay-per-use support for car breakdowns and accidents."

When does risky driving spike around Thanksgiving?
Late Wednesday night and Thanksgiving morning bring some of the biggest changes in driving behavior:

• Wednesday night gets busier. The number of trips increased more than 40% between 9 p.m. Wednesday and 3 a.m. Thursday.
• Speeds climb Thanksgiving morning. Driving at 80 mph or faster increased nearly 200% between 6 and 9 a.m. and remained more than 100% above normal through lunch.
• Risky behaviors stack up Thanksgiving Day. About 1 in 5 trips involved multiple risky behaviors. Among those riskier trips, more than 90% combined speeding and phone use.
• Faster driving continues into Black Friday. From 6 to 9 a.m., high-speed driving was up more than 80%, even with about half as many trips as a typical Friday morning.

Where does high-speed driving increase the most around Thanksgiving?
Across Thanksgiving Day, some of the biggest jumps were in South Carolina (+151%), New York (+149%), Texas (+139%), North Carolina (+129%) and Florida (+123%).

The pattern also showed up on several major interstates during Thanksgiving week:

• I-40 (+60%), I-30 (+49%) and I-10 (+37%) in Texas
• I-40 in New Mexico (+43%)
• I-30 in Arkansas (+39%)
• I-35 in Kansas (+37%)
• I-20 in Louisiana (+36%)

How far are Thanksgiving drivers going, and where?
The share of trips of 100 miles or more doubled Wednesday and Thursday, and the average Thanksgiving Day trip was more than 40% longer than usual.

Oklahoma City saw a 42% increase in out-of-state drivers during Thanksgiving week, followed by Jacksonville, Florida (+19%), San Antonio (+16%), New Orleans (+14%) and Columbus, Ohio (+14%).

Trip volume also increased sharply along several interstate corridors:

• I-20 in Mississippi (+57%) and Louisiana (+49%)
• I-95 in North Carolina (+52%) and South Carolina (+48%)
• I-10 in Mississippi (+47%)

What should Thanksgiving drivers watch for on the trip home?
The Monday after the holiday was Allstate Roadside's second-busiest day of 2025, with service events 52% above the daily average. Over the holiday, about 3 in 5 service events required a tow, while jump-starts were the most common service that did not involve towing.

What can Thanksgiving drivers do before hitting the road?
A safer Thanksgiving drive starts before you leave. Drivewise in the Allstate app can help enrolled customers understand driving habits like speed, braking and phone activity. You can also take a few simple steps to prepare for the trip ahead:

• Pack for a delay. Keep water, snacks, medications and phone chargers in the car in case traffic, collisions or weather extend your trip.
• Allow extra time. Set your navigation before leaving and don't try to make up time on the road.
• Check your battery and tires. Address potential problems before a long drive, especially before the drive home, when roadside assistance demand picks up.
• Know how to get help. Review your roadside assistance options before traveling in case of a breakdown. Allstate Roadside offers membership and pay-per-use options, whether or not you have Allstate insurance.

Methodology
Drivewise findings are based on aggregated and anonymized data from more than 44 million trips taken Nov. 22-30, 2025, compared with Nov. 8-16, 2025. Individual holiday days were compared with designated same-weekday baselines, with a separate October control period used to help assess whether changes were unique to the holiday period. High-speed driving means driving at 80 mph or faster, and changes in high-speed driving reflect the percent change in the share of miles driven at 80 mph or faster, compared with the applicable baseline period. Speeding means driving more than 15 mph over the posted limit. Phone use reflects phone handling measured in the Drivewise analysis. Out-of-state drivers reflect the average daily number of Drivewise users whose trips ended in a state other than their policy state. Interstate trip volume reflects the change in Drivewise trips traveling each interstate during Thanksgiving week, compared with Nov. 8-16, 2025. Interstate figures reflect the combined change across each interstate's stretches within a state and exclude frontage roads, business loops and business routes. Rankings of increases by state, city and interstate exclude places where the October control period also shifted 10% or more.

Allstate Roadside findings are based on roadside service events from Nov. 20 to Dec. 2, 2025, compared with the 2025 daily average where noted.

Frequently asked questions
Can you get Allstate Roadside without Allstate insurance?
Yes. Allstate Roadside is available to drivers with or without an Allstate insurance policy. Drivers can choose a membership or use pay-per-use help when they need it. Allstate Roadside is also available through the Allstate app, with services such as towing, jump-starts, tire changes, lockout assistance and fuel delivery.¹

What does Drivewise help drivers understand?
Drivewise® in the Allstate app gives enrolled customers personalized feedback on speed, braking and phone activity to help them understand their driving and make improvements.

Can Drivewise help drivers save on their insurance?
Yes. Drivewise connects enrolled customers to a more personalized auto insurance rate based on their everyday driving. Customers may save just for participating, and their overall savings depend on their driving and state. In some states, high-risk driving may increase the price they pay.²

¹ Allstate Roadside services are subject to availability, terms and conditions. Response times vary by location, traffic and weather.
² Drivewise savings are not available in CA and AK. Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Smartphone and download of Allstate Mobile app with activation of Drivewise required. Savings based on driving behavior and may vary by state. In some states, participation in Drivewise allows Allstate to use your driving data for purposes of rating. While in some states your rate could increase with high-risk driving, safer drivers will save with Drivewise.

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) protects people from life's uncertainties with affordable, simple and connected protection for autos, homes, renters, electronic devices, and identities. Products are available through a broad distribution network including Allstate agents, independent agents, major retailers, online, and at the workplace. Allstate has 218 million policies in force and is widely known for the slogan "You're in Good Hands with Allstate." For more information, visit www.allstate.com.

SOURCE Allstate Insurance Company