Like me, you’re getting ready to travel during Thanksgiving week. You’re undoubtedly checking flights or figuring out the best routes for your trip to see relatives, even though many Americans may not be traveling 1,100 miles like me.
In fact, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving ever, with AAA projecting that 80 million Americans would be spending Thanksgiving at least 50 miles away from home.
Accordingly, one in four Americans will be traveling by car or plane at the same time next week. Depending on the day you choose to leave home, we’ve examined Google Maps’ patterns to determine the ideal times to travel and the busiest times to avoid in order to assist you avoid delays and nightmarish situations.
Do not overlook this Google Flights option for very low-cost airline tickets or our advice on how to pack your carry-on to prevent problems with TSA if you are going.
Thanksgiving travel: the best and worst times to go
Nobody in the US like driving in traffic, particularly around the holidays when you’re rushing to get your casseroles and pies to the feast on time. According to Google analytics, use these methods to avoid traffic and travel with the fewest delays.
If at all possible, begin your drive early. Around 8 p.m. on the Sunday and Monday before Thanksgiving, the roads are at their cleanest. However, be careful not to go too soon. Traffic usually peaks between 1 and 2 p.m. on the Friday before Thanksgiving, which is November 22 this year.
Thanksgiving Day is not a good day to drive. According to Google analytics, you should completely avoid driving on Thanksgiving. If at all possible, you should leave before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. on the day of the event to avoid being caught in traffic.
Steer clear of flights on weekends. Avoid scheduling flights on weekends when pricing is at its highest and airports are at their busiest if you’re choosing to fly rather than drive. Make sure to get at the airport early than normal if you have flights scheduled for the weekend before or following Thanksgiving. This is particularly important if your flight is at about 11 a.m., since that is generally when airports are busiest.
See also: Google Flights Data Indicates the Ideal Time to Purchase Low-Cost Air Tickets
The worst time to go shopping on Black Friday in-store
Although I like to purchase online, many Americans like the in-store Black Friday shopping experience. If it describes you, make plans in advance to avoid traffic.
On Black Friday, the busiest times on the highways are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. To avoid traffic and get a parking space, schedule your shopping for the morning or evening.
Anticipate your Christmas trip.
Plan your Thanksgiving route, so why not plan your Christmas route as well? In the days before December 25, it is advisable to steer clear of driving between 1 and 4 p.m.
Examine Google Maps’ Popular Times trends to find out when it’s best and worst to visit popular vacation destinations like supermarkets, airports, and petrol stations to avoid lengthy lineups, traffic, and frustrations.