These are the 10 best U.S. cities for Thanksgiving in 2026, according to a new study

WalletHub compared 100 cities based on holiday celebrations, affordability, weather, and travel conditions. The top 10 includes a few surprises.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and if you’re thinking about spending the holiday somewhere other than home this year, a new study has some interesting suggestions.

Personal finance website WalletHub just released its 2026 ranking of the best places to go for Thanksgiving, and the results might surprise you. Several warmer-weather destinations made the top 10, while some of the country’s biggest tourist cities didn’t perform nearly as well.

To determine the rankings, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 18 metrics, including the cost of Thanksgiving dinner, restaurant options, flight delays, volunteer opportunities, and expected holiday weather.

The study also considered affordability, safety, and how enthusiastic residents are about Thanksgiving, based partly on Google search activity.

Here are the 10 highest-ranked cities for Thanksgiving in 2026, counting down to the top spot.

10. Chesapeake, Virginia

Chesapeake rounds out the top 10, earning particularly strong scores for safety and accessibility. It ranked fourth in that category among the 100 cities studied and 14th for charitable giving.

The city also placed 14th for its Thanksgiving weather forecast. Affordability was another relatively strong point, with Chesapeake ranking 41st, although it finished 60th for celebrations and traditions.

9. Boston, Massachusetts

Boston feels like a natural fit for Thanksgiving, especially considering Massachusetts’ connection to the holiday’s early history. The city ranked ninth overall, with its strongest performance coming in safety and accessibility, where it placed 20th.

Affordability was a weaker point, with Boston ranking 58th in that category. Still, there’s plenty to explore if you’re visiting over the long holiday weekend, including the Freedom Trail, Beacon Hill, and the city’s historic North End.

I’ve visited Boston myself, and it’s one of my favorite cities to explore on foot. If you’re planning a trip, I’ve put together a guide to things to do in Boston, along with a YouTube video covering some of my favorite attractions and experiences for first-time visitors.

8. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach earned eighth place overall, helped by strong scores for safety and accessibility and its Thanksgiving weather forecast. It ranked 10th and eighth, respectively, in those categories.

The coastal city didn’t perform quite as well for celebrations and traditions, placing 48th. However, travelers looking for an oceanfront getaway might find it an appealing alternative to the usual Thanksgiving destinations.

7. Houston, Texas

Houston landed in seventh place, thanks largely to its affordability and Thanksgiving celebrations. It ranked sixth for affordability and eighth for celebrations and traditions.

Safety and accessibility was its biggest weakness, with Houston placing 96th in that category. However, the city’s strong dining scene and relatively favorable holiday weather helped it secure a spot in the top 10.

6. Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale came in sixth overall and performed especially well for charitable giving, ranking third in the country. It also placed 15th for Thanksgiving celebrations and traditions and 20th for affordability.

The city didn’t score nearly as well for its holiday weather forecast, coming in 89th. Still, Scottsdale’s desert scenery, restaurants, and outdoor attractions make it an interesting option for travelers hoping to turn Thanksgiving into a vacation.

5. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas might not be the first city that comes to mind for Thanksgiving, but it landed in fifth place in WalletHub’s rankings. The city ranked third for celebrations and traditions, making it one of the strongest performers in that category.

Las Vegas also placed 39th for safety and accessibility and 33rd for affordability. With its enormous restaurant selection and entertainment options, there’s plenty to do over the long holiday weekend beyond Thanksgiving dinner.

4. Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville secured fourth place, with strong performances in both celebrations and traditions and affordability. It ranked 13th for celebrations and 17th for affordability.

The city also tied for ninth in the Thanksgiving weather forecast category. While it didn’t score as well for safety and accessibility, placing 67th, its overall combination of holiday activities, costs, and predicted weather helped push it near the top.

3. San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio took third place overall, and it’s an especially attractive option for travelers watching their holiday budgets. WalletHub ranked it first for affordability, and the city had the third-cheapest Thanksgiving dinner in the study.

The city also scored well for its selection of highly rated restaurants, pumpkin patches, and holiday decoration shops. Another advantage is the forecast, which placed San Antonio second for Thanksgiving weather, with only a 1% chance of precipitation predicted when the study was conducted.

2. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta claimed second place and actually ranked first in the country for Thanksgiving celebrations and traditions. Its abundance of highly rated restaurants and holiday decoration stores helped it earn that distinction.

The city also performed particularly well for charitable giving, placing second overall. And for anyone flying in for the holiday, there’s another encouraging statistic: Only 16% of flights arriving at or departing from Atlanta were delayed last November, according to WalletHub’s analysis, giving the city one of the better records in the country.

1. Dallas, Texas

Dallas earned the top spot as WalletHub’s best city for Thanksgiving in 2026, with an overall score of 68.83.

The city ranked second for celebrations and traditions, thanks in part to its abundance of highly rated restaurants and holiday decoration shops. Residents also showed particularly strong interest in Thanksgiving-related Google searches.

Dallas scored ninth for its holiday weather forecast and 11th for affordability. For those who want to balance Thanksgiving festivities with a little charitable giving, the city also ranked 25th for the number of charities per capita.

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