Traffic Predict
LAX to Palm Springs: Thanksgiving Traffic 2026
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 25), the drive from LAX to Palm Springs is longest leaving around 3 pm: about 190 minutes, about the same as a normal Wednesday. Leave around 9:30 am (141 minutes) or 9 pm (117 minutes) instead. Coming back on Sunday, November 29, the slowest time to leave is around 12 pm (125 minutes); around 6 am it takes 118 minutes.
Day by day
- Tuesday, November 24: fastest leaving around 6 am (122 minutes), slowest around 4 pm (193 minutes, about like a normal Tuesday).
- Wednesday, November 25: fastest leaving around 6 am (122 minutes), slowest around 3 pm (190 minutes, about like a normal Wednesday).
- Thursday, November 26: fastest leaving around 6 am (115 minutes), slowest around 3:30 pm (153 minutes, 38 minutes less than a normal Thursday).
- Friday, November 27: fastest leaving around 6 am (117 minutes), slowest around 3:30 pm (160 minutes, 39 minutes less than a normal Friday).
- Saturday, November 28: fastest leaving around 6 am (118 minutes), slowest around 3:30 pm (134 minutes, 11 minutes less than a normal Saturday).
- Sunday, November 29: fastest leaving around 6 am (118 minutes), slowest around 12 pm (125 minutes, about like a normal Sunday).
Drive time by departure
| Leave | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Nov 24 | 118 | 122 | 132 | 143 | 140 | 139 | 142 | 148 | 155 | 177 | 190 | 193 | 190 | 170 | 149 | 130 | 119 |
| Wed Nov 25 | 117 | 122 | 131 | 141 | 142 | 143 | 150 | 158 | 163 | 175 | 190 | 181 | 165 | 151 | 141 | 128 | 117 |
| Thu Nov 26 | 112 | 115 | 122 | 124 | 122 | 124 | 128 | 129 | 134 | 144 | 152 | 153 | 149 | 139 | 126 | 119 | 112 |
| Fri Nov 27 | 114 | 117 | 125 | 126 | 128 | 133 | 138 | 141 | 144 | 151 | 160 | 155 | 143 | 138 | 139 | 124 | 116 |
| Sat Nov 28 | 117 | 118 | 120 | 121 | 122 | 122 | 125 | 127 | 130 | 133 | 134 | 133 | 132 | 129 | 126 | 122 | 118 |
| Sun Nov 29 | 118 | 118 | 119 | 119 | 119 | 121 | 122 | 125 | 125 | 124 | 123 | 122 | 121 | 122 | 123 | 123 | 118 |
Minutes for the 123-mile drive, streets included (hover a cell for a normal day). Estimated from this trip's typical speeds and how much each freeway on it sped up or slowed down on past Thanksgivings (2016 onward, leaving out 2020), hour by hour. A crash or storm can change any single day.
LAX to Palm Springs on a normal day →
Thanksgiving traffic across California · Traffic estimator
Questions
What is the worst time to drive from LAX to Palm Springs for Thanksgiving?
On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 25), the drive from LAX to Palm Springs is longest leaving around 3 pm: about 190 minutes, about the same as a normal Wednesday. Leave around 9:30 am (141 minutes) or 9 pm (117 minutes) instead. Coming back on Sunday, November 29, the slowest time to leave is around 12 pm (125 minutes); around 6 am it takes 118 minutes.
How long does the drive from LAX to Palm Springs take over Thanksgiving?
Tuesday, November 24: fastest leaving around 6 am (122 minutes), slowest around 4 pm (193 minutes, about like a normal Tuesday). Wednesday, November 25: fastest leaving around 6 am (122 minutes), slowest around 3 pm (190 minutes, about like a normal Wednesday). Thursday, November 26: fastest leaving around 6 am (115 minutes), slowest around 3:30 pm (153 minutes, 38 minutes less than a normal Thursday). Friday, November 27: fastest leaving around 6 am (117 minutes), slowest around 3:30 pm (160 minutes, 39 minutes less than a normal Friday). Saturday, November 28: fastest leaving around 6 am (118 minutes), slowest around 3:30 pm (134 minutes, 11 minutes less than a normal Saturday). Sunday, November 29: fastest leaving around 6 am (118 minutes), slowest around 12 pm (125 minutes, about like a normal Sunday).