Wanna Beat Thanksgiving Traffic? Here’s What Time You Should Plan on Leaving

By: Bridget Clerkin November 20, 2018
We’re all ready for Thanksgiving, but are you ready for the drive? See what time you should leave to beat the holiday traffic.
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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

AtlantaSkyline

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

BostonBridge

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

CharlotteSkyline

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

ChicagoRoads

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

ClevelandSkyline

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

DallasSkyline

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

DenverCityscape

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

DetroitSkyline

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

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

LosAngeles

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

MiamiSkyline

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

MinneapolisSkyline

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

NewYorkCity

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

OrlandoFL

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

PhiladelphiaSkylineNight

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

PhoenixSkyline

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

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

PortlandOR

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

RaleighNC

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

SacramentoSkyline

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

SanFranciscoSkyline

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

SeattleRoads

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

StLouisSkyline

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

TampaSkyline

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.

WashingtonDCSkyline

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.

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