21 Thanksgiving Trips: Best Places to Travel with Family
Thanksgiving holiday weekend is a busy time to travel, but it can also lead to some amazing experiences. With a little paid time off saved, you can stretch that long weekend into one week of quality time and making memories. If you celebrated a traditional Thanksgiving last year, maybe it’s time to shake things up this holiday season! Taking Thanksgiving trips around the United States (or nearby) is much easier than you think. Late November offers great destinations the whole family will enjoy. Older and younger generations included! From winter sun hotspots to adventures in the snow, here are some ready-to-book Thanksgiving vacation ideas.
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Where Should Families Go for Thanksgiving Trips?
The best Thanksgiving trips for families combine a full holiday dinner with activities everyone enjoys. Top picks include Sea Island and Greenbrier for classic resort celebrations, Park City and Vail for ski families, Grand Cayman and Kauai for warm-weather escapes, and Grapevine, TX, or Lake Geneva, WI for easy drive-to getaways.
East Coast Thanksgiving Trips
1. Lake George, NY
- Where To Stay: The Sagamore Resort
- Nearest Airport: Albany International Airport (70-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car, as the fall trolley service in Lake George ends on Columbus Day
Lake George is a town in the western Adirondack Mountains, located on the picturesque lake of the same name. Staying at the Sagamore Resort, one of the region’s most luxurious hotels, means you don’t have to skip a gourmet Thanksgiving Dinner. You can still have a delicious pumpkin pie! Visit the historic Fort William Henry Museum built in 1755 and book a wine tasting at Adirondack Winery and Cidery.
2. Martha’s Vineyard, MA
- Where To Stay: Harbor View Hotel
- Nearest Airport: Rhode Island T.F. Green Airport (75-minute drive) or Boston Logan Airport (one hour and 45-minute drive) and then a 45-minute ferry
- How To Get Around: Rent a car
Harbor View Hotel will pull out all the stops with your Thanksgiving meal, including traditional fare and local seafood. Don’t miss Martha’s Vineyard’s annual Artisans Festival over Thanksgiving weekend. Here you will find upmarket antique shops and artwork to purchase from local craftspeople.
Stroll along island beaches that are usually closed to summer tourists, like Lucy Vincent Beach. Cozy up in Rosewater Market with a hot cocoa afterward.
3. Bar Harbor, ME
- Where To Stay: Bar Harbor Grand Hotel
- Nearest Airport: Bangor International Airport (80-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car (the Island Explorer shuttle ends in mid-October)
Traveling over winter holiday weeks to popular national parks will allow you to enjoy them in the low season without the crowds. Bar Harbor is just outside Acadia National Park, and despite the cooler temperatures, you can still partake in outdoor activities. Jordan Pond Bath is a scenic, low-elevation, easy hike for your turkey trot. Just bring good hiking boots in case of frost this time of year!
Southern Thanksgiving Trips
4. Sea Island, GA
- Where To Stay: The Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club
- Nearest Airport: Jacksonville Airport (70-minute drive) or Savannah Airport (80-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car or contact The Lodge about airport transfers and complimentary BMW hire
Open to resort guests only, Sea Island is the perfect place for a relaxing Thanksgiving celebration on the coast. Enjoy tons of Thanksgiving activities like bingo, high tea, a 5k family run/walk, wine tastings, special church services, a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, and casual or formal dinners. Families will love the Southern hospitality, and November’s lower humidity is a welcome indulgence.
5. Greenbrier, WV
- Where To Stay: The Greenbrier
- Nearest Airport: West Virginia International Yeager Airport (two-hour drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car (note Amtrak Cardinal services stop at White Sulphur Springs, opposite the hotel)
Greenbrier is one of the best Thanksgiving destinations thanks to the unrivaled five-star hotel and lush green landscape. You can enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving celebration surrounded by the rolling farmlands and small villages of central Appalachia. The Greenbrier serves a classic Turkey Day feast with stargazing events, family trivia, bingo, and much more.
6. Gatlinburg, TN
- Where To Stay: Embassy Suites by Hilton Gatlinburg
- Nearest Airport: Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (one-hour drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car or use the Gatlinburg Free Trolley operating 365 days a year
The historic town of Gatlinburg is a great home base for a Thanksgiving trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Drive along Newfound Gap Road and enjoy the last of the fall leaves. Warm up after your outdoor adventures at the Tennessee Cider Company.
Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are home to year-round Christmas shops like The Incredible Christmas Place. It’s an ideal time to take advantage of Black Friday and start your holiday shopping!
7. Seaside, FL
- Where To Stay: WaterColor Inn
- Nearest Airport: Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) is about a 30- 45-minute drive. Destin/Fort Walton Beach (VPS) is 45 minutes to an hour.
- How To Get Around: Rent a car
Use your Thanksgiving travel time to enjoy the sunny skies of Seaside, Florida. There couldn’t be a better name for this adorable coastal town! With average highs of 75°F in November, you can enjoy the beautiful beaches of Seagrove and Santa Clara. Walk along the soft, white sand without the crowds. Stick around until Saturday for the annual town Christmas lighting.
Midwest Thanksgiving Trips
8. French Lick, IN
- Where To Stay: West Baden Springs Hotel
- Nearest Airport: Louisville International Airport (90-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car or use the hotel’s accessible complimentary shuttle service
Known for its restorative mineral springs, French Lick is the closest you’ll get to a European spa town in Indiana. It even has a mini wine country in French Lick Winery, which you should check out. West Baden Springs Hotel serves up a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner every year. Afterward, you can stop by the spa, head to the casino next door, or sneak away to watch the football game.
9. Lake Geneva, WI
- Where To Stay: Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
- Nearest Airport: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (50-minute drive) or Chicago O’Hare (1 hour 20 minutes)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car
Visiting Lake Geneva will be one of your best Thanksgiving vacations ever. Wrap up and take a Lake Geneva boat tour to spot the Gilded Age mansions along the lakeshore. The Lake Geneva Shore Path is perfect for a post-turkey stroll. Grand Geneva Resort holds special dinners every holiday, and Thanksgiving is no exception.
10. Branson, MO
- Where To Stay: Lodge of the Ozarks or Cabins at Green Mountain
- Nearest Airport: Springfield-Branson National Airport (one-hour drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car or ride Sparky the Free Downtown Trolley from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. in November
Branson is known for its entertainment theaters featuring live music, dance, and other performances every night. It’s also a gateway city to the Ozark Mountains and riverways. This prime location makes it one of the best destinations to appease nature lovers and culture vultures alike on family Thanksgiving trips.
Book Dolly Parton’s Stampede Thanksgiving Dinner Theater for the most unique holiday dinner. Families traveling with young kids and grandparents should check out Silver Dollar City, an 1800s-themed amusement park.
Southwest Thanksgiving Trips
11. Park City, UT
- Where To Stay: The Pendry or Marriott’s MountainSide
- Nearest Airport: Salt Lake City International Airport (45-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Book an airport transfer and take the free city buses
For some families, shredding powder is a non-negotiable winter holiday activity. That makes Park City a top Thanksgiving getaway! Book ski lift passes for Deer Valley, Park City Mountain, or Woodward. The ski season here starts around mid-November, so Thanksgiving is the perfect time to visit.
Spend your days in the mountains or relaxing in your resort’s outdoor spa. One of the best things to do in Park City is to walk along the colorful and historic main street, built during the 19th-century silver mining boom.
12. Vail, CO
- Where To Stay: Sonnenalp
- Nearest Airport: Denver International Airport (two-hour drive) or Eagle County Regional Airport (about 45 minutes by car)
- How To Get Around: Book an airport transfer and use the free year-round shuttles
The beautiful city of Vail is also one of the best places to enjoy winter sports on your family’s Thanksgiving trips. Again, Vail typically opens for the ski season about two weeks before Thanksgiving. Sonnenalp Vail hosts what they describe as a “bountiful buffet” with traditional Thanksgiving favorites plus crab claws, seafood, salads, and more. Stay warm by soaking in their heated indoor and outdoor pools.
13. Grapevine, TX
- Where To Stay: Great Wolf Lodge or Gaylord Texan
- Nearest Airport: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (8-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Book an airport transfer and ride the Visitors Shuttle or use Uber/Lyft
What better way to enjoy a family Thanksgiving trip than by making it as stress-free as possible? Grandparents and little kids will both have a great time in Grapevine for two reasons.
First, Grapevine’s proximity to DFW Airport makes it such a convenient destination. Second, the Great Wolf Lodge has an incredible indoor water park and cozy themed woodland lodge-style rooms. Escape the resort by hiring a pontoon boat to explore Grapevine Lake and the lakeside parks.
14. Scottsdale, AZ
- Where To Stay: Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort or Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
- Nearest Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (20-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Book an airport transfer and use Uber/Lyft to get around or rent a car
With the heat making Scottsdale fairly unbearable to visit in summer, Thanksgiving is one of the best times to plan a vacation here. Adults-only Thanksgiving trips can book hot air balloon tours above the beautiful Arizonan desert landscapes. Visit the tasting rooms in the Old Town of local wineries like Carson Creek Vineyard, Salvatore Vineyards, and Los Milics Vineyards.
Are you visiting Scottsdale with kids? Head to McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park and ride the trains lit up in festive decorations.
West Coast Thanksgiving Trips
15. Leavenworth, WA
- Where To Stay: Icicle Village Resort
- Nearest Airport: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (two-hour and 15-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car or use the Leavenworth Shuttle
Book a festive family trip to Leavenworth before the Christmas craziness really kicks in! Known as ‘Little Bavaria’, Leavenworth is the closest thing to a German Christmas Market in the Cascades and one of our favorite places to visit for Christmas. Thanksgiving sees the switching on of the Christmas lights, which is a can’t-miss event. Plan to spend a lot of time on the ice rink, snowmobiling, tubing, and going on sleigh rides.
16. San Diego, CA
- Where To Stay: Hotel del Coronado for a splurge
- Nearest Airport: San Diego International Airport (15-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Book an airport transfer and use Uber/Lyft or rent a car
Visiting a big city in Southern California like San Diego over Thanksgiving means two things. First, you’re likely to have great weather. Second, there will be lots of Thanksgiving activities!
See the Pacific coastline while participating in the Oceanside Turkey Trot (run or walk). Enjoy the beautiful lightscapes at the San Diego Botanical Garden and shop at the Thanksgiving Crafts Fair at Bates Nut Farm. Leave time for walks on the beach, hiking at Torrey Pines State Beach, or riding bikes along the boardwalk in Oceanside.
17. Kauai, HI
- Where To Stay: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
- Nearest Airport: Lihue Airport (25-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car
Visiting Hawaii for Thanksgiving doesn’t mean you can’t dine on a delicious dinner with all the trimmings. Book local restaurants like Grand Hyatt Kauai’s Thanksgiving buffet or Merriman’s Fish House Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner. Tour the Kauai Coffee Farm – they even roast pumpkin pie coffee for the holidays! Hike along the Na Pali Coast and make the most of the warm climate by snorkeling in the coral reefs.
International Thanksgiving Trips
18. Whistler, Canada
- Where To Stay: Wedge Mountain Lodge
- Nearest Airport: Vancouver International Airport (two-hour drive)
- How To Get Around: Book an airport transfer or rent a car
Canadian Thanksgiving might be in October, but you can still have a fun vacation over your holiday break! Whistler is home to one of North America’s largest ski resorts, and its season starts around mid-November. Book ski passes and enjoy skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, and snowshoeing in this winter wonderland. Check out the Olympic Plaza for ice skating.
19. Tulum, Mexico
- Where To Stay: Jashita Hotel & Villas
- Nearest Airport: Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport (one-hour drive), which is a new airport that opened in December 2023
- How To Get Around: Book an airport transfer and take taxis when it’s too far to walk
While most resorts in the Mexican beach town of Tulum might not serve Thanksgiving dinner, most offer discounted stays! Jashita Hotel & Villas is one of the many hotels offering Americans discounts on their restaurants, spas, and other facilities over the holiday weekend. Spend what you save on tours of Tulum’s Mayan ruins. Make the most of Yucatán’s winter climate by relaxing on the famed six-mile Tulum Beach.
20. Iceland
- Where To Stay: Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre
- Nearest Airport: Keflavík International Airport (50-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car or book an airport transfer and use buses and organized tours
If you live on the East Coast, a flight to the Land of Fire and Ice could be as short as five hours! Late November is a great time to visit Iceland (as long as you dress well!) to avoid summer crowds. You have the added benefit of being more likely to spot the Northern Lights at this time of year.
Stay warm by soaking in Iceland’s many hot springs like the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, or Hvammsvík. Eat as many delicious pastries in the capital of Reykjavík as possible from Hygge Coffee & Micro Bakery, Brauð & Co, and Mokka Kaffi. It will more than make up for missing a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
21. Grand Cayman
- Where To Stay: Kimpton Seafire
- Nearest Airport: Owen Roberts International Airport (10-minute drive)
- How To Get Around: Rent a car
Average temperatures for late November in Grand Cayman are around 75 – 86°F. With only a one-hour flight time from Florida, Grand Cayman is an ideal choice for easy extended family Thanksgiving trips!
Enjoy the white-sand beaches lined with palm trees like Seven Mile Beach. And despite Grand Cayman being a British territory, many local restaurants serve Thanksgiving dinners. Book a table at The Brasserie, Seven Steakhouse, or Casanova by the Sea.
Quick Picks: Best Thanksgiving Trips for Families by Travel Style
Not sure where to start? Here is a fast breakdown by what your family actually wants from the holiday weekend.
- Warm weather on the beach: Grand Cayman, Seaside, FL, or Kauai
- Ski and snow adventures: Park City, UT, Vail, CO, or Whistler, Canada
- Classic American resort Thanksgiving: Sea Island, GA, Greenbrier, WV, or French Lick, IN
- Easy drive from a major city: Grapevine, TX (from Dallas), Lake Geneva, WI (from Chicago), or Gatlinburg, TN (from Knoxville)
- International escape: Tulum, Mexico, Iceland, or Grand Cayman
- Christmas-lights magic: Leavenworth, WA or Grapevine, TX
Tips for Planning Thanksgiving Trips for Families
Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year in the United States, so a little planning goes a long way.
Book early. Hotel rooms at popular resort destinations like Sea Island, Greenbrier, and Park City fill up months in advance for the Thanksgiving week. Lock in accommodation well before October if you can.
Short on time? Think drive-friendly destinations. Several picks on this list work beautifully as 3-day Thanksgiving getaways. Grapevine is just minutes from DFW Airport. Lake Geneva is under 90 minutes from Chicago. Gatlinburg is an easy drive from Knoxville, Nashville, and Atlanta.
Flying with extended family? Look for destinations served by a major hub airport. Phoenix Sky Harbor (Scottsdale), Salt Lake City (Park City), and Dallas Fort Worth (Grapevine) all have strong connectivity, which makes coordinating arrival times for grandparents, cousins, and everyone else far less painful.
Mix the meal with activities. No one has to skip the feast just because you are traveling.
Key Takeaways
- Book resort destinations before October. They sell out fast.
- Warm-weather picks: Grand Cayman, Seaside FL, Kauai.
- Best ski Thanksgiving: Park City, Vail, Whistler.
- Closest to DFW Airport: Grapevine, TX (8 minutes).
- 3-day getaway sweet spots: Grapevine, Lake Geneva, Gatlinburg.
- Iceland flight from the East Coast: as short as five hours.
Where is the best place to vacation for Thanksgiving with kids?
For families with kids, the best Thanksgiving vacation spots combine a proper holiday dinner with child-friendly activities.
Grapevine is a standout: it sits minutes from DFW Airport, and the Great Wolf Lodge has an indoor water park.
Sea Island packs the weekend with family bingo, a 5k run/walk, and a Christmas tree lighting.
Gatlinburg is an easy road-trip destination near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
For warm weather, Grand Cayman offers beach days and local restaurants that serve Thanksgiving dinner.
What are good 3-day Thanksgiving getaways in the USA?
Several destinations on this list work perfectly as quick 3-day Thanksgiving getaways. Grapevine is minutes from DFW Airport and anchored by the Great Wolf Lodge. Lake Geneva, WI, is under 90 minutes from Chicago and has a lakeside resort that hosts a special Thanksgiving dinner. Gatlinburg is an easy drive from multiple major Southern cities and sits at the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. French Lick, Indiana, is 90 minutes from Louisville and offers a full holiday feast at West Baden Springs Hotel.
What are the best all-inclusive or resort-style options for Thanksgiving?
Sea Island is one of the top resort-style Thanksgiving destinations in the US, with a full holiday program that includes bingo, high tea, a family 5k, wine tastings, a Christmas tree lighting, and formal and casual dinners, all on a private coastal island. Greenbrier in West Virginia is a five-star property in central Appalachia serving a classic Thanksgiving feast with stargazing and family trivia.
When should I book Thanksgiving travel to get the best rates and availability?
Book as early as possible. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel weeks of the year, and resort destinations like Sea Island, Greenbrier, and Park City fill up months in advance. Aim to lock in accommodation before October for the best room selection. Flights also get expensive quickly, so booking early is especially important when coordinating for extended family traveling from different cities.
Can you do a warm-weather Thanksgiving trip with kids?
Yes, several destinations on this list deliver warm weather over Thanksgiving weekend. Seaside has average highs of 75°F in November with uncrowded beaches. Grand Cayman averages 75-86°F and is only a one-hour flight from Florida. Tulum is another warm option, with most resorts offering discounted stays over the holiday weekend.
What are the best Thanksgiving ski destinations for families?
Park City and Vail are the top Thanksgiving ski destinations in the US. Both resorts typically open around two weeks before Thanksgiving, making the holiday the perfect time for a first-ski weekend of the season. Park City gives you access to Deer Valley, Park City Mountain, and Woodward. Vail’s Sonnenalp Hotel hosts a full Thanksgiving buffet after a day on the slopes. For international skiing, Whistler Canada opens around mid-November and is home to one of North America’s largest ski resorts.
What is the easiest Thanksgiving destination to reach by air?
Grapevine wins on pure airport convenience: it is just 8 minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, one of the busiest hubs in the country. Scottsdale is 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor. San Diego is 15 minutes from San Diego International Airport. For East Coast families, Grand Cayman is only a one-hour flight from Florida, and Iceland can be as short as a five-hour flight from the East Coast.
Best Thanksgiving Trips
Spending time with grandparents and close family members is precious. No one ever feels like they see enough of their family! Instead of talking about vacationing together “someday” while eating your Thanksgiving feast, kill two birds (one of them being turkey) with one stone by traveling over Thanksgiving weekend!
Hopefully, this guide has inspired you to book Thanksgiving trips to celebrate Turkey Day and make the most of your time off and time together.
