When Are the Best Times to Drive for Thanksgiving Holiday?

If you're traveling this Thanksgiving holiday, you won't exactly be lonely. Triple A says it will be you and about 80 million other travelers on the roads and in the air. That's up almost 2 million people from last year. That is the number of people traveling 50 miles or more from home.

If you're driving, Triple A says roads will be most crowded on the days leading up to Thanksgiving. That includes Tuesday, November 26, from 1 to 7 PM, and Wednesday, November 27, from 1 to 5 PM.

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If you have to travel on these busy days, they suggest that you get on the road as soon as possible. On Monday try to be traveling before 11 AM and Tuesday and Wednesday before 10 AM.

Unfortunately, the best day to be on the road is the holiday itself with the least traffic expected on Thanksgiving Day. But you don't want to miss all the goodies and the laughter, do you?

When all the leftovers have been packed up and you're ready to head back home, the best time to be on the road will again be early in the morning or late in the evening.

You should try to be on the road after 1 PM on Friday, November 29, or before 1 PM on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1. And if you're not heading home until Monday, December 2, you'd better get on the road before 8 AM  or after 7 PM.

Source: USA Today and Triple AAA