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Plan your holiday drives with Google Maps’ trends

Plan your holiday drives with Google Maps’ trends

Nov 14, 2024

To help you breeze through this year’s festivities, here are Google Maps’ traffic predictions, as well as best and worst times to run errands to help keep up that holiday cheer.

Holly N. Jolly

Chief Sleigh Logistics Officer

General summary

Google Maps is predicting heavy holiday traffic this year. To avoid getting stuck, plan your trips ahead of time and avoid peak travel times. For example, the best time to travel on Thanksgiving is the Sunday or Monday before, around 8 p.m. local time. If you must travel on Thanksgiving Day, head out before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Bullet points

Google Maps helps you plan your holiday drives with traffic predictions and popular times data.
Avoid driving on Thanksgiving Day, especially between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Friday before Thanksgiving is the busiest day for traffic, especially from 1-2 p.m.
Black Friday traffic is heaviest between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., so plan for morning or evening shopping.
Avoid driving between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the days leading up to Christmas to avoid congestion.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Basic explainer

Google Maps wants to help you avoid traffic jams during the holidays. They've looked at travel patterns and found the best and worst times to travel. For Thanksgiving, it's best to travel early on Sunday or Monday before the holiday. For Black Friday, avoid shopping between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. And for Christmas, try to avoid driving between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the days leading up to Christmas. Google Maps can also help you find the best times to visit popular holiday spots.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Shakespeare-ish

Hark, travelers, heed this holiday guide,
For Google Maps doth offer timely aid.
To dodge the crowds and traffic's surging tide,
Plan your journeys, lest you be dismayed.

Before Thanksgiving, early hours are best,
Avoid the rush, and find a peaceful way.
On Black Friday, morning's calm is blessed,
And Christmas Eve, the afternoon's a fray.

So heed these tips, and travel with delight,
With Google Maps, your holiday will shine.
May all your journeys be both safe and bright,
And may your festive season be divine.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Haiku-ish

Holiday traffic woes,
Google Maps helps you plan ahead,
Avoid peak times, drive.

Thanksgiving rush hour,
Tuesday, Wednesday, avoid them,
Sunday, Monday best.

Black Friday crowds,
Morning or evening hours,
Beat the holiday rush.

Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental.

Explore other styles:

Car driving past different businesses

From navigating airports to wading through crowded grocery stores, the holidays are full of fun and busy moments. Ahead of the jam-packed season, we’re sharing this year’s U.S. holiday traffic predictions to help you plan ahead and save time — whether you’re road tripping to festivities, knocking out all of your holiday tasks or even starting to plan your Christmas commute. Read on for our top takeaways:

🚘 Hit the road early!

If possible, get a head start on Thanksgiving and avoid heading out on Tuesday and Wednesday. Typically, roads are clearest the Sunday or Monday before the big day around 8 p.m. local time. But don’t leave too early: The Friday before Thanksgiving is often when traffic is busiest, especially from 1-2 p.m.

🦃 Time your Thursday drive wisely.

Make sure you, the green bean casserole and the pumpkin pie all arrive on time. It’s best not to drive on Thanksgiving Day at all — but if you must, head out before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid getting stuck in a jam.

💳 Beat Black Friday chaos.

To brave the crowds or not? Whatever you decide, the roads on Black Friday are busiest between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Make plans for the morning or evening instead.

🎄Plan your Christmas commute now!

There’s no such thing as being too prepared. When planning your Christmas adventures, try to avoid driving between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the days leading up to the 25th — that’s when roads are typically most congested.

Because nothing dampens holiday cheer like waiting in long lines, we also analyzed Google Maps’ Popular Times trends to let you know the best and worst times to visit top holiday spots — check them out below.

Infographic showing busiest times to run errands

Now that you know when (and when not) to hit the road, don’t miss our other tips on how Google can help you handle the holidays like a pro!

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