The Worst And Best Times to Travel for Thanksgiving 2016 in the Twin Cities

When are drivers most likely to crowd Minnesota highways and interstates as they travel for Thanksgiving 2016? The worst day of Thanksgiving travel in the Twin Cities metro is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

If you want to hit the worst traffic imaginable, leave at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

Google Trends released some holiday tips using historical Google Maps traffic data. The best time to leave has already passed: it was this Sunday at 6 a.m. The worst time to be on the roads is the day before Thanksgiving, Nov. 23, at 3 p.m.

Best and Worst Times to Leave

Best day to leave:

Sunday before Thanksgiving: Leave the Sunday before Thanksgiving at 6 a.m. for a smooth trip. Avoid traveling around 3 p.m. when traffic is at its worst.

Worst day to leave:

• Day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday): If you have to leave Wednesday, you should hit the road at 6 a.m. and avoid driving around 3 p.m.

Best day to return:

• The day after Thanksgiving (Friday): If you can leave the day after Thanksgiving, your best bet is to hit the road at 6 a.m. Avoid traveling around 2 p.m. when traffic is at its worst.

• The Saturday after Thanksgiving: If you have to return on Saturday, leave by 6 a.m. and avoid traveling around 4 p.m. when traffic is at its worst.

View real-time traffic information below:

Thanksgiving Week Weather

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for parts of central Minnesota that is now in effect until 6 a.m. Wednesday. Affected counties include Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Isanti, Chisago, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Wright, Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey, Washington, Mcleod, Sibley, Carver, Scott, and Dakota.

More precipitation, mainly snow, will develop late Tuesday afternoon and diminish around 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The heaviest snowfall rates will occur between 6 p.m. and midnight Tuesday.

Total wet snow accumulations of two to four inches are expected with a glaze of ice also possible. Plan on slippery road conditions.

Image via Alison Mickelson, Flickr, used under Creative Commons