The Busiest Travel Times to Keep in Mind This Thanksgiving and Black Friday
Updated: Jan. 05, 2023
According to Google, knowing these times will help avoid crowds and make picking up your favorite pie a breeze.
With Thanksgiving and Black Friday just a few days away, many people will be hitting the road or heading to the airport to kick off their holiday travel. And, undoubtedly, grocery stores, bakeries and shopping centers are bound to be packed as well. So when is the best time to avoid crowds and still get everything you need to enjoy your Thanksgiving menu ASAP?
Thanks to Google Maps, shoppers and travelers alike can know the most optimal times to avoid holiday crowds. Google Maps broke down travel time data both nationally and in local cities at popular holiday spots such as airports, bakeries, grocery stores, post offices and shopping centers.
Here are the travel times that will help make your holiday season a breeze.
The Busiest and Least Busy Times, Nationally
According to Google Maps, these are the average busiest and least busy times at these popular holiday hot spots across the country:
Airports
- Busiest: Saturday at 12 p.m.
- Least Busy: Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday at 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Monday at 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday at 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday at 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday at 12 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday at 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Monday at 3 p.m.
Based on this data, expect lots of crowds across the country throughout the weekend—except at the post office. Weeknights or early mornings may be the best times to hit all of the spots on your Thanksgiving to-do list.
Additionally, the Google Maps team estimates that to avoid traffic, drivers should try their best not to start their Thanksgiving road trip on Tuesday or Wednesday between 4 and 5 p.m. As for Thanksgiving, anywhere between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. is guaranteed to see lots of traction on the road. Black Friday yields similar results, with traffic peaking at 4 p.m. nationally.
Busiest and Least Busy Times, Local Cities
Across these 20 cities, these are the busiest and least busy average times to visit these popular spots:
Atlanta, Georgia
Bakeries
- Busiest: Sunday 11 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 12 p.m. or Friday 1 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Austin, Texas
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 2 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 2 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 3 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Monday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 11 a.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 4 p.m.
Boston, Massachusettes
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 11 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 2 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 12 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 7 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest- Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy- Friday 4 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy- Friday 2 p.m.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 12 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Monday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 11 a.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 5 p.m.
Chicago, Illinois
Bakeries
- Busiest: Sunday 9 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 4 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Tuesday 2 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Thursday 12 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 11 a.m.
Dallas, Texas
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 11 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 11 a.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 11 a.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Denver, Colorado
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 2 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 10 a.m.
Detroit, Michigan
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 11 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 11 a.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 10 a.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Wednesday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 1 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 2 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 4 p.m.
Houston, Texas
Bakeries
- Busiest: Sunday 9 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Thursday 2 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 1 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 2 p.m.
Los Angeles, California
Bakeries
- Busiest: Sunday 9 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 4 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 10 a.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 1 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 10 a.m.
Miami, Florida
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 11 a.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Thursday 4 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 12 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 10 a.m.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Monday 5 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 11 a.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 1 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 6 p.m.
Nashville, Tennessee
Bakeries
- Busiest: Sunday 6 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 5 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Wednesday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 6 p.m.
New York, New York
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 12 p.m.
- Least Busy: Wednesday 9 p.m. or Tuesday 8 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday 3 p.m. or Saturday 11 a.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 2 p.m. or 3 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Thursday 7 p.m.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bakeries
- Busiest: Sunday 11 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 1 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 12 p.m.
- Least Busy: Monday 3 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 4 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest- Saturday 1pm
- Least Busy- Friday 3pm
Phoenix, Arizona
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 1 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 12 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 1 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Monday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 4 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 11 a.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 12 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 6 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Thursday 10 a.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Portland, Oregon
Bakeries
- Busiest: Sunday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 4 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Thursday 5 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 10 a.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Thursday 3 p.m.
San Francisco, California
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 2 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 10 a.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Monday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Thursday 11 a.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 12 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 10 a.m.
Seattle, Washington
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 3 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 10 a.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Tuesday 3 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 10 a.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Saturday 10 a.m.
Washington, DC
Bakeries
- Busiest: Saturday 10 a.m.
- Least Busy: Thursday 2 p.m.
Grocery Stores
- Busiest: Sunday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Thursday 1 p.m.
Post Offices
- Busiest: Saturday 11 a.m.
- Least Busy: Friday 10 a.m.
Shopping Centers
- Busiest: Saturday 1 p.m.
- Least Busy: Wednesday 2 p.m.
Travelers, hosts and guests can stop by stores across the country with these times in mind. What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than a hassle-free errand process on your way to enjoying stuffing? Avoiding crowds and long airport lines may just be one more thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
