Things keep getting worse for Neal Page (Steve Martin) as he tries to get home to Chicago from New York in time for Thanksgiving. After losing out on the last available cab by tripping on traveling shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith's (John Candy) trunk, Neal is forced to take a bus to the airport. After being bumped from first class, neat and uptight Neal is seated next to the outgoing and sloppy Del in coach for the flight to Chicago. Bad weather diverts their flight to Wichita, Kansas and although Neal desperately wants to be rid of the talkative Del, the pair end up pooling their resources to get home. They share motel rooms and rental cars and stories of the road and little by little they make their way home.