- Everyone knows that Thanksgiving traffic can be hellish, whether you're traveling 10 miles or 100.
- You can help alleviate traffic troubles by leaving on the right day at the right time.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner — and with it, traffic and travel woes galore.
If you're thinking about when to leave to visit your friends, families, or loved ones, it's important to leave at the right time.
To help people avoid the worst of the holiday traffic, the American Automobile Association revealed the worst (and best) times to hop on the road this year. With a significant increase in travel from last year, per AAA, you'll want to take a look.
The absolute worst times to travel on the road
The absolute worst and busiest day to drive is Wednesday, November 22.
In some cities, average travel times could be up to 80% longer than normal, per AAA.
Though other days have lighter traffic, there are still times you should avoid Thursday through Sunday — mostly in the afternoon.
On Thursday, the worst time to travel will be before 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; on Friday, you shouldn't head out between noon and 4 p.m.
Over the weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, the busiest time to drive will be around normal rush hours, between 3 and 5 p.m.
Never fear — AAA also listed the best times for a car ride this week
If that list of bad times has you stressed, don't worry. There are also better times for you to leave, mostly earlier in the morning or later at night.
Wednesday, it's best to travel in the morning before 11 a.m., and Thursday's roads will be clearest before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m.
Friday, before 11 a.m. and after 7 p.m. will be the easiest to drive on.
Saturday and Sunday mornings will be the best times to leave and head home — before noon, traffic will be less severe.
And, while you're on the road, there will be millions far above you in the sky.
The Transportation Security Administration estimated about 30 million passengers will fly between November 17 and November 28 during its "busiest ever" holiday season.