Thanksgiving is a time for celebration and gratitude. It is also among the busiest travel weeks of the year. AAA predicts that around 56.4 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the holiday this year. That can make for extra traffic and congestion along major highways. Here are some ways to beat the Thanksgiving traffic and keep you in the holiday spirit even if you are celebrating from the road.
Be Aware of Peak Traffic Times
Knowing the best and worst times to be on the road can help you to cut time spent in Thanksgiving traffic. Travel days will extend from Wednesday, November 23, to Sunday, November 27. Peak holiday travel will occur locally on Thanksgiving day, but congestion may last several days after the holiday as travelers return from their gatherings.
Check this guide to see the ideal windows for being on the road each day of the Thanksgiving traffic period. On Thanksgiving Day, it suggests that the worst time to be on the road will be from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, but driving before 11:00 am and after 6:00 pm will have more favorable road conditions.
Plan Your Route
It will be essential to check your route to know exactly where your day will take you when avoiding Thanksgiving traffic. Highways near Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles will be the most congested during Thanksgiving. Although avoiding these areas is the best option, being aware of the time of day you will be moving through can help to minimize time spent sitting in traffic.
Prepare to Wait
Even with great planning you may still have to sit in some Thanksgiving traffic. Be prepared with some good podcasts and audiobooks or your favorite playlist since traffic can be up to twice as long as it normally would be. If you find yourself stuck for a while you can stay in the spirit of the season and give someone you are thankful for a call. If you are looking for other ideas to combat boredom check out this article.
Although most people would rather be with their families during Thanksgiving we are grateful for the hard work of truckers. Much of the food present at Thanksgiving gatherings wouldn’t have made it to grocery stores without a carrier to deliver it. Thank you for taking the time to make the holiday happen!
The England Carrier Services (ECS) division offers various services for carriers ranging from maintenance to support. As ECS members, carriers have access to nationwide discounts on fuel and tires from dedicated team members committed to finding the best price. ECS also provides factoring services with benefits such as same-day funding to a bank account or fuel card. These options allow carriers the freedom to focus on growing their business while saving time and money.