Avoid Thanksgiving Traffic by Checking Last Year’s Travel Trends
Article Published by: lifehacker.com
In theory, Thanksgiving should be one of the chillest days of the year; all you do is stuff your face and watch tiny men run across a big green field on the TV. Sadly, that’s just the part of Thanksgiving we fantasize about while forgetting the reality of the bumper-to-bumper, family-tension-filled car ride to Grandma’s house. This year, however, we can strive to avoid the traffic with the internet’s help.
This info comes courtesy Google Maps, which has compiled trends from Thanksgiving weekend 2016, based on the places that Google users were asking for directions to the most, as well as what time they were asking. Their findings give use some hint as to when to start our trip to a hearty 1,500 calorie meal.
Assuming you’re going to dinner somewhere that can be reached by car, Google says that you’re most likely avoid traffic by leaving on Thanksgiving morning. People generally don’t take off extra days around this particular holiday, so the roads are choked on Wednesday afternoon into the evening. To avoid traffic on the way home, leave early on either Saturday or Sunday, but beware: Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest return times.
Some of the funnier trends noted by Google involve the places people tend to visit while the family is all gathered together. You’ve finished eating, and there still might be up to three days of weekend left! Aside from trawling Black Friday deals, what do you do? The things people are searching paint a real picture of cabin fever:
According to historical Google Maps search data, the most popular destinations over the Thanksgiving holiday period are ham shops, outlet malls, tree farms, natural features (think outdoor experiences), and electronics stores.
Ah, would any trip home be complete without a visit to the ham shop? This may be a cultural thing I’m unfamiliar with, and everyone goes and buys a ham after eating a turkey in their hometown—I don’t know. But Google Maps also provided an interactive map where you can more specifically search trends in your city, check the traffic, and figure out the best time to visit the local ham shop or bowling lane or lingerie outlet. Plan ahead, so you can politely leave at just the right moment, with a bag full of leftovers.
About Scott Livengood
Scott Livengood is the owner and CEO of Dewey’s Bakery, Inc., a commercial wholesale bakery with a respected national brand of ultra premium cookies and crackers.
Previously, Scott worked at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for 27 years, starting as a trainee in 1977. He was appointed President of the company in 1992, then CEO and Chairman of the Board.
Scott has served on numerous boards including the Carter Center, the Calloway School of Business and the Babcock School of Management, Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County, and the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce.
He started a new business, StoryWork International, in 2016 with Richard Stone. The signature achievement to date is LivingStories, a story-based program for improved patient experiences and outcomes in partnership with Novant Health.
