With the average person spending over $300 each year during the five-day period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, the personal-finance website WalletHub has released its report on the Best Places to Go for Thanksgiving in 2024, along with a Thanksgiving Fun Facts infographic, to help people maximize their enjoyment while protecting their wallet.
Top 20 Cities for Thanksgiving
San Diego, California tops the list for Thanksgiving cities, coming in at number one. It was followed by Atlanta, GA; San Francisco, CA; San Jose, CA; Dallas, TX; Lexington-Fayette, KY; San Antonio, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Louisville, KY and, rounding out the top 10, Orlando, FL.
Taking spots 11 through 20 were Scottsdale, AZ, at number 11; St. Paul, MN; Cincinnati, OH; Chesapeake, VA; Houston, TX; Virginia Beach, VA; Oklahoma City, OK; Charlotte, NC; Irving, TX and, at number 20, Los Angeles, CA.
Thanksgiving Facts
$321 – Average person’s spending over the five-day Thanksgiving period.
10 Hours – Length of time the average American male would need to spend on the treadmill to burn the 4,500 calories consumed at the average Thanksgiving meal.
$1.2B – Estimated amount Americans spend on Thanksgiving turkeys each year, with 46 million turkeys killed for the holiday.
$26 Million – Amount of property loss caused by residential building fires each Thanksgiving.
61 percent – Share of people celebrating Thanksgiving who try to avoid having to talk politics at the dinner table.
“The best cities for celebrating Thanksgiving all have an abundance of high-quality restaurants and places to buy festive decorations, and their residents get very excited for the holiday based on their Google search history. Other features make individual cities stand out; for example, San Diego has great weather, Atlanta has a fantastic track record for on-time flights and San Francisco has surprisingly affordable accommodations,” said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo. “San Diego is the best place to go for Thanksgiving this year, and it’s an especially good place for people who want to dine out, with an extremely high number of restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars. San Diego also helps make things festive with an abundance of pumpkin patches and holiday decoration shops. In addition, San Diego residents get very excited about Thanksgiving, searching Google for terms related to the holiday more than people in most other cities. And if you want to offset the materialism of the following shopping weekend with some charitable giving, San Diego has the 11th-most charities per capita.”
Expert Commentary
What money-saving tips do you have for people who plan to travel for Thanksgiving?
“To save money if you plan to travel for Thanksgiving, book flights and accommodation early, compare prices from nearby airports, pack light to avoid baggage fees, and use loyalty points where possible (but avoid signing up for new credit cards just for one-time rewards). When planning travel, focus on family time and shared experiences to reduce stress, save money, and build lasting memories. Consider road trips, staycations, or local gatherings as cost-effective alternatives to peak travel, and save splurges for other times of the year. A ‘travel simplicity’ mindset can foster a more meaningful and enduring sense of happiness.”
Dominique Braxton, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Loyola Marymount University
“One money-saving tip for people who plan to travel for Thanksgiving is to drive rather than fly or take another form of transportation, such as the train or bus. If one cannot drive to their destination, look for deals to the destination. If the destination is flexible, look for last-minute offers leading up to the holiday. If one must fly to a particular destination, book for off-peak days/times. The usual cost-effective days/times to fly around the Thanksgiving holiday are well before and after the holiday and at off-times. Flying a weekday well before the holiday, or at the latest, Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week, is usually less expensive than the peak days of the weekend before the holiday or on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. Returning home, flying the Monday or Tuesday the week after the holiday or later, is generally less expensive than Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Still, if one must get back before the start of the next week, then Friday would be better than the weekend. Flying early in the morning is the best time to fly because there are usually fewer delays, and it may be less expensive because it is less popular, but also at other off-peak times, such as later at night or red eye may be another money-saving option.”
Laurie A Meamber – Associate Professor, George Mason University
What tips do you have for celebrating Thanksgiving on a budget?
“Remember, Thanksgiving is a holiday to reflect and be thankful for family and friends. If you are on a budget, consider celebrating with other families and/or friends and cooking large portions of dishes. You can always host the meal as a ‘potluck.’ Also, it is smart to use local and seasonal foods, which are cheaper. What is a traditional Thanksgiving meal today, anyway? If you want to shake up the menu to save money, go for it! Decorate your table with items from the yard or art that your kids made. It is simply important to remember the people around the table are more important than the food or décor on it.”
Dr. Amanda Cecil, Ph.D., CMP – Professor, Indiana University-Indianapolis
“Thanksgiving is ideal for mindful spending and reinforcing gratitude. Whether through a potluck or a simple home-cooked meal, sharing food with loved ones creates meaningful connections without high costs. DIY decorations made from natural elements like autumn leaves or pinecones can add warmth while encouraging family creativity. To keep expenses manageable, plan a simple menu, stick to a shopping list, and focus on activities that emphasize togetherness, like holiday games or family movie time, rather than splurge on elaborate dishes and decorations.”
Dominique Braxton, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Loyola Marymount University
What are some of the biggest money wasters on Thanksgiving?
“The biggest Thanksgiving money-wasters include buying table decorations, using name-brand or premium ingredients, purchasing pre-prepared food that is not discounted for the holiday, alcoholic and some non-alcoholic beverages (soda), and succumbing to impulse purchases, such as extra snacks and desserts.”
Laurie A Meamber – Associate Professor, George Mason University
“Food is the biggest money wasting category, but it is an integral part of the TG celebration. Sources estimate that more than 300M pounds of food gets wasted during Thanksgiving. This contains nearly 200M pounds of Turkey, 40M pounds of mashed potatoes and 30M pounds of stuffing that go to waste. Second big one is spending money on unnecessary décor and arrangements which are relegated to the basement or pack boxes. Thirdly, indiscriminate buying of stuff without comparing prices and sticking to a budget. Most times, people suffer from buyers’ remorse post-Thanksgiving holiday when looking at the credit card bills.”
Lalatendu Acharya, Ph.D., MBA – Assistant Professor, Indiana University Kokomo
