Is it worth driving Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash on holidays? A 2026 day-by-day guide

The holidays can be some of the most profitable days of the year for gig workers, but there is a catch: the biggest opportunities aren’t necessarily on the holidays themselves. In many markets, the real money comes the night before, in the days leading up to the holiday, and in the days immediately afterward.

Every year, I hear drivers complain that they went online on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day expecting to make a killing, only to spend hours sitting in a parking lot waiting for an offer. Others report the exact opposite: they made more money in a few hours than they normally make in an entire shift. So who’s right?

Both sides are, and that’s what makes holiday driving so unpredictable.

After more than a decade in the gig economy, I’ve learned that successful drivers don’t chase calendar dates; they chase demand. A holiday might bring millions of potential customers onto delivery platforms while simultaneously putting thousands of other drivers on the road hoping to cash in. The result is a marketplace that can change dramatically depending on the app, the city, the time of day, and how many drivers decide to work.

Remember, being online during a holiday doesn’t automatically mean being profitable. I’m using the US holiday calendar here, but the pattern holds wherever you drive. The nights and travel days around a big holiday usually beat the holiday itself.

Best holidays to drive: An app-by-app guide

Before deciding when to work, understand that different platforms have different demand cycles. A rideshare driver looking for airport passengers and bar crowds has a completely different opportunity from a DoorDash driver waiting for dinner orders or an Instacart shopper looking for large grocery batches.

Here is a breakdown of the major platforms and the holidays worth watching.

Driving Thanksgiving week: What’s worth it?

Is it worth driving Uber or Lyft the night before Thanksgiving?

The night before Thanksgiving is one of my favorite opportunities on the holiday calendar, particularly for rideshare drivers. During the daytime, people are busy preparing for Thanksgiving, shopping, cooking, or traveling. But when the sun goes down, the equation changes. People return to their hometowns, meet old friends, visit bars, and attend gatherings they might not have attended in months.

Airport demand can also be strong on Tuesday and Wednesday as travelers head out of town. However, don’t confuse a busy airport with guaranteed profitable trips. You need to account for airport waiting lots, deadhead miles, and the possibility of being sent somewhere you don’t want to go.

My advice? Take the afternoon off if your market is quiet, have dinner with your family, and consider going online when the bars and restaurants start filling up.

Should you drive Uber, Lyft, or DoorDash on Thanksgiving Day?

Thanksgiving is a different animal. Rideshare demand can slow because people are home with family, and many businesses and restaurants close or operate reduced hours. Delivery, however, can provide opportunities from restaurants that remain open, convenience stores, and last-minute grocery orders.

Gridwise’s Thanksgiving analysis showed that nationwide Uber and Lyft trip pay barely changed during Thanksgiving week compared with the preceding week. That tells me the holiday doesn’t necessarily create a nationwide earnings windfall. It changes when and where demand happens.

If you want to work Thanksgiving, check which restaurants are actually open before committing to a delivery shift. Don’t spend an hour driving around waiting for a restaurant that decided to close early.

Is Black Friday busy for rideshare drivers?

Black Friday can bring a different kind of demand. Shoppers need transportation, retail employees are working extended hours, and travelers begin returning home. The entire Thanksgiving weekend can provide opportunities, especially around airports, shopping districts, and busy commercial areas. However, I wouldn’t automatically call Black Friday a great rideshare day. Shopping traffic can create congestion, slow down pickups, and make short trips less profitable.

When should Instacart shoppers work Thanksgiving week?

If you’re an Instacart shopper, the day before Thanksgiving deserves your attention. Instacart’s 2022 data identified it as the platform’s highest-order day of the entire year, and its 2024 data showed the same day as the peak for Thanksgiving orders. December 23 was also a peak ordering day in December 2022.

Expect last-minute ingredients, forgotten items, desserts, beverages, and customers who suddenly realize they need another grocery trip. Larger baskets can be attractive, but don’t forget to factor in the time spent shopping, checking out, loading, and delivering. A $40 batch isn’t necessarily a good batch if it takes two hours and sends you 15 miles away.

Driving on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Is it worth driving Uber on Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve is a mixed bag for rideshare drivers. Holiday parties, family gatherings, airport departures, and people making last-minute trips to pick up relatives drive demand. Early airport runs can be worthwhile, particularly in major metropolitan areas.

But remember something: you’re not the only driver who knows this. Many drivers who want to make extra money during the holidays have the same idea. If too many drivers are online, the additional demand gets diluted. I would focus on airport trips, early-evening transportation, and areas with holiday events rather than driving aimlessly around town.

Is Christmas Day busy for DoorDash and Uber Eats?

Here is where delivery drivers might have an advantage over rideshare drivers. According to DoorDash’s analysis of 2024 delivery activity, Christmas Day was its busiest holiday occasion, followed by New Year’s Day. Surprisingly, New Year’s Eve ranked only 11th.

Why? Many families don’t want to cook, some people celebrate Christmas differently, and others don’t celebrate it at all. Restaurants that remain open can benefit from customers who want a meal without leaving home.

Rideshare is more complicated. Some drivers report excellent earnings because competition is very low. Others report sitting around with almost no requests.

Personally, I wouldn’t automatically sacrifice Christmas Day with my family for the chance to make money. If you enjoy driving and your market has enough open restaurants and transportation demand, give it a shot. But check restaurant operating hours and local demand before committing to a full shift.

What about the day after Christmas?

December 26 is worth watching. People start returning home, visiting shopping centers, exchanging gifts, and getting back to normal routines. DoorDash ranked December 26 among its 20 busiest holiday occasions in 2024.

For rideshare drivers, airports and transportation hubs are obvious places to monitor. For delivery drivers, expect some customers to return to ordering food rather than eating holiday leftovers for the third consecutive day. I would rather work December 26 than automatically assume Christmas Day will be profitable.

Driving on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

Is driving on New Year’s Eve worth it?

High opportunity, higher risk. New Year’s Eve is potentially one of the year’s most lucrative nights for rideshare drivers. It’s also one of the most dangerous and unpredictable. People attend parties, visit bars, celebrate with friends, and need transportation home. Surge pricing can appear in certain markets, and drivers who position themselves correctly can have an excellent night.

But let’s talk about the downside, because the gig companies won’t necessarily remind you about it. You’re dealing with intoxicated passengers, potential damage to your vehicle, spills, cleaning fees, and impaired motorists sharing the road with you. One passenger getting sick in your back seat can turn an otherwise profitable shift into an expensive disaster.

If you’re planning to drive, prepare accordingly:

• Invest in quality seat covers and floor mats.

• Keep cleaning supplies, disposable bags, and paper towels in your vehicle.

• Know your platform’s cleaning-fee policies and document any damage immediately.

• Avoid unnecessary arguments with intoxicated passengers.

• Establish a hard stop time before you start driving.

I have always believed that drivers should treat their vehicles like small businesses. You wouldn’t let a customer destroy your business equipment without consequences. Protect your investment.

Is it worth driving on New Year’s Day?

New Year’s Day can be surprisingly good for delivery drivers. DoorDash ranked it second among its busiest holiday occasions in 2024. For rideshare, the afternoon can bring airport pickups, people retrieving vehicles left overnight, and passengers returning from celebrations.

Lyft’s analysis of 2023 earnings also identified January 1 as its highest-tipped date, with tips 28% above the national average. Don’t overlook January 2, either. Return travel continues, airports get busy, and people return to work. Depending on your market, it can be a better opportunity than New Year’s Day itself.

Do riders and customers tip more during the holidays?

This is another interesting topic because drivers have different experiences. Some believe customers are more generous during the holidays, while others argue that people are already stretched financially from buying gifts, traveling, and entertaining family.

Uber has made some encouraging claims, and according to Uber, average tips on December 31 increased for both Uber rides and Uber Eats. Uber also reported that Christmas tips on Uber Eats topped 30%. These are company-reported observations, not a guarantee that every driver will receive more tips.

My advice is simple: provide excellent service, keep your vehicle clean, communicate professionally, and don’t build your holiday earnings projections around tips. Tips are a bonus, not guaranteed income.

How to plan your holiday driving schedule

Let’s bring everything together. If you’re serious about making money during the holiday season, stop thinking about working every holiday and start thinking about working the most profitable hours.

Here is how I would approach the U.S. holiday calendar:

Is holiday driving worth it? My final take

One piece of advice: calculate your cost per mile (CPM), not just your gross earnings. A $300 holiday shift sounds impressive until you realize you drove 200 miles, spent money on fuel, and put unnecessary depreciation on your vehicle. Revenue is not profit. Use Mystro’s free CPM (Cost Per Mile) calculator to gauge your profitability.

Holiday driving can be lucrative, but only if you approach it like a business. Choose the right days, work the right hours, watch driver supply, and keep multiple apps available. Your time goes to the highest bidder, and having more than one app open is how you find out who that is.

The holidays are supposed to be about family, too. Make sure the extra money you’re chasing is actually worth the time you’re giving up.