The Lollipop Road

Is it really less than six weeks away…I know, where did the time go? Are you traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday this year? Well, holiday travel numbers have been up this year, so it should be interesting to see if that trend continues through the remainder of the holiday season – I’d bet on a resounding yes. Luckily, this year we’re hosting Thanksgiving, but in years past, we’ve carefully planned our trip to avoid traffic and congestion. There is only one thing worse than tired and cranky kids (while sitting in traffic) and that is tired and cranky parents.  So, how can you beat the rush?

The first and best advice we can give you is to take Thanksgiving week or the week after off.  This will undoubtedly give you the most travel options.  As a matter of fact, the week following Thanksgiving is the slowest travel week of the year, so it is also a perfect time for a family vacation.  At the very least, if you take the Tuesday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after, you will be able to avoid most of the travel congestion by traveling on Tuesday and then again on the following Monday.

If you can’t swing a week off, remember that many travelers have a four day weekend, but some may also take Wednesday off, so expect the heaviest travel days to be Wednesday and Sunday.  Experts might tell you to leave Tuesday evening, but that really doesn’t work for families with toddlers because of the ‘witching hours’ (although it is a great option for families with infants).  So, if you can take Wednesday off, leave early in the morning, after the morning rush hour has subsided.  If you cannot make that work for you, do not leave past 11AM on Wednesday, wait until Thanksgiving morning instead.

Although there is a great deal of travel that occurs on Thanksgiving Day, it is more weighted toward short distance and local travel, so the highways are less likely to be crowded.  If you start out early, say by 8AM, you can make a 250 mile trip by 1PM, just in time for dinner.  If you have a longer drive, starting out Wednesday morning works best.

Friday will see a lull in travel and most traffic will be concentrated in local shopping areas for Black Friday.  So, if you don’t care about making your destination for Thanksgiving, have a nice family meal at home and head out Friday morning after 8AM – it should be smooth sailing most of the way.  Friday is also the best day for a return trip.

The next best return will be Saturday morning; however, you can also leave late Saturday afternoon, stop for dinner and stay overnight part way, finishing the trip early Sunday morning.  Travel will only worsen as Sunday progresses,  so avoid traveling after Noon at all costs.  Of course, if you can travel on Monday instead, that would add sanity to your trip.

When timing your travel, be aware of your route.  Passing through major cities or congested local areas during peak times should be avoided.  A shorter trip is a better trip.  Check for traffic alerts before you leave and be aware of how weather might impact your travel.  Most of all, drive safely.

Looking for more Thanksgiving holiday travel tips? Check out Best Family Travel Advice where other family travel experts answer your questions.

Disclosure

Check Out These Related Posts:

1. Christmas Tree Buying and Preparation Tips Choosing a holiday Christmas tree presents several challenges. Should you get a real tree or an artificial tree? How do you prepare for a real...

Share |

2 Responses to “Tips For Traveling By Car At Thanksgiving”