For many, Thanksgiving is a wondrous day filled with friends, family, football, and food. But before you can enjoy these perks, you’ll have to get where you’re going.
The holiday’s penchant for bringing people together has filled Thanksgiving week with some of the biggest travel days of the year, with the celebration bringing just as many nightmarish traffic jams as it does heartwarming memories.
And while you may not be able to dodge the crowds completely, you may be able to outmaneuver most of the mob—or at least get an idea of the type of ride you’ll be in for.
Utilizing data it collects through its various maps and GPS apps, as well as other Internet searches and information, Google has created a rough sketch of the traffic patterns on the days surrounding Thanksgiving, and has put together a how-to guide of sorts for eluding the crush of rush hour.
According to the web search giant, drivers everywhere are advised to avoid bakeries at noon on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving—when the establishments are the most jammed. Liquor store traffic peaks at 5 p.m. the night before Thanksgiving, while movie theaters hit their peak that Friday at 8 p.m.
Grocery stores and shopping centers also see waves of heavy-duty attendance throughout the afternoon on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, with shopping centers seeing an obvious surge all day on Black Friday.
But for those just hoping to make the big show—that is, the one featuring the turkey and all the world’s tastiest carbs—on time, Google also offers some advice.
The company compiled a list of the best and worst times to leave from the country’s top 25 cities, covering the optimal departure times for both getting to Thanksgiving dinner and getting home from the festive feast. (Hint: If you want to have the most congestion-free time, we sure hope you like early mornings.)
Keep reading to see when you should take off—just don’t tell too many of your friends, or the secret will be out.If You Live in Atlanta
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Sunday, 4 p.m.
If You Live in Boston
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Sunday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Charlotte, NC
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Thanksgiving Day, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Sunday, 3 a.m.
If You Live in Chicago
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Cleveland
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Dallas
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Thanksgiving Day, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Denver
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Detroit
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Houston
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Los Angeles
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 4 p.m.
If You Live in Miami
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 4 a.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time, Friday 3 p.m.
If You Live in Minneapolis
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in New York City
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday at 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday at 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday at 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Sunday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Orlando
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Philadelphia
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Phoenix
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 5 p.m.
If You Live in Pittsburgh
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Thanksgiving Day, 5 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Sunday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Portland
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 4 p.m.
If You Live in Raleigh
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Thanksgiving Day, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Sunday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Sacramento
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 4 p.m.
If You Live in San Francisco
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 4 p.m.
If You Live in Seattle
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Friday, 4 p.m.
If You Live in St. Louis
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Thanksgiving Day, 5 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Sunday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Tampa-St. Petersburg
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Thanksgiving Day, 5 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Sunday, 3 p.m.
If You Live in Washington, D.C.
Before Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Wednesday, 3 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
After Thanksgiving:
- Best time to leave: Friday, 4 a.m.
- Worst time to leave: Sunday, 3 p.m.
