Las Vegas is officially the place to be this Thanksgiving. According to new studies, the Entertainment Capital of the World has beaten out New York City as the top Thanksgiving destination for 2025.
This draws travelers eager for a holiday filled with bright lights, luxury stays, and festive excitement on the Strip.
Las Vegas Tops National Travel Rankings For Thanksgiving
A recent report by travel tech company HotelPlanner found that Las Vegas has secured the No. 1 spot as the most popular Thanksgiving hotspot. The report shows that Vegas outpaces other major U.S. cities, such as New York, Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco.
The study analyzed hotel bookings nationwide for the Thanksgiving weekend and revealed that 56% of travelers plan to visit Las Vegas. The city experienced a 13% increase in holiday travel compared to last year, while New York City came in second with a 7% growth rate.
Experts say that while both cities are well-equipped to handle large crowds, Las Vegas’s hospitality infrastructure gives it a distinct edge. “Both New York and Las Vegas are well practiced at dealing with spikes in visitors,” HotelPlanner’s Tim Gunnstone said. “Las Vegas, being more reliant on tourism revenue, has built a much larger supply of hotel rooms to cope with the demand.”
Following the top two spots, Chicago placed third, San Francisco came in fourth, and Boston rounded out the top five. The findings show that travelers are leaning toward destinations known for entertainment and experience, with Las Vegas leading the pack as the preferred Thanksgiving getaway.
Rising Costs Don’t Deter Holiday Travelers
While Sin City continues to attract visitors in record numbers, travelers are also voicing frustration over rising prices. Hotel rates in Las Vegas are up by 23% compared to 2024. The average nightly room price is now around $218, according to the report.
Visitors say even simple purchases are taking a toll on their wallets. “Having a coffee that was $14 was crazy. I just wasn’t expecting that,” said Katherine from College Station, Texas, in an interview with Fox News Digital. “It was just a latte with a few extra flavors.”
Her daughter, Cammie, echoed similar sentiments, noting that drinks and bottled water have become “so expensive.” On social media, some tourists have called out what they describe as “price gouging.” However, experts note that Las Vegas remains more affordable than New York City overall.
New York hotel rates have reportedly climbed by 53% since last year. This jump is attributed to a smaller number of available rooms. “Rates have gone up more in New York, probably because it has around 30,000 fewer hotel rooms to sell,” Gunnstone explained. “It’s a case of supply and demand.”
Las Vegas Ranks Among Top Thanksgiving Destinations
The study analyzed the 100 largest U.S. cities to determine where Americans can make the most of their Thanksgiving holiday this year, which falls on Thursday, Nov. 27. Researchers compared each city across 18 key metrics. These included the cost of Thanksgiving dinner and travel affordability, to the number of delayed flights and forecasted weather conditions.
The rankings evaluated cities across five categories: Thanksgiving Celebrations and Traditions, Affordability, Safety and accessibility, Giving Thanks, and Thanksgiving Weather Forecast. Each city received a total score out of 100 based on the combined data.
Las Vegas secured the No. 9 spot nationwide, earning a score of 60.47 — placing it within the top ten U.S. destinations for Thanksgiving festivities. According to the findings, San Antonio, Texas, topped the list with a score of 65.70, followed by Atlanta, Georgia (63.60).
The report also highlighted several fun local statistics that contribute to the city’s appeal during the holiday season. Las Vegas tied for the No. 1 spot overall for the number of holiday decoration shops per capita, alongside Louisville, Orlando, Tampa, and Scottsdale. The city also placed ninth nationwide for pumpkin patches per capita.
