If night driving doesn’t bother you, roll out around 7:30pm Tuesday.
You’ll have more or less a normal drive. Home by midnightish.
I wouldn’t drive in the middle of the night unless your body clock is already used to those hours.
Wednesday at 8am is not “early” to wake up to travel. Wake up at like 4am and head out.
Or leave at like 10pm on Tuesday.
Leave early Thanksgiving Day. No one on the road.
Ash said:
Leave early Thanksgiving Day. No one on the road.
This is what I do and agree.
Not sure if leaving at rush hour on any given day (6pm) is such a good idea. Especially before Thanksgiving.
If you are going to be stuck in traffic no matter what you do, why not get off the interstate and take state roads? Yes, it will take longer than the interstate (on most days), but the scenery will be more interesting.
Now.
One week ahead then for sure you won’t hit traffic.
After nearly everyone is off the road (like after 9PM) or before everyone wakes up (like 4AM). Do NOT make the mistake of trying to “beat” the traffic by leaving earlier in the afternoon, or by leaving on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. Everyone else is having the same thoughts and you will meet them in the giant traffic jam, guaranteed.
@Logan
Thank you! I think I’ve decided I’m leaving at 10pm Tuesday.
Leave by Halloween
You’re too late already.
Now.
Leave at 3 AM.
I have done that drive before and the big thing is avoiding NYC traffic. Depending if you need to go through Providence, 8 AM, you’d probably catch a good amount of traffic there. You’re then looking at southern CT and into NYC when lots of those folks will be on the road.
6 PM on Tuesday would be better, but that’s still a little early and depending on how close you are to Providence you may hit traffic there again. The rest of the drive would be okay. I’d consider leaving around 7:30/8 and I think you’d miss most of the traffic. Get in around midnight then sleep in the next morning.
To avoid heavy traffic, consider leaving earlier on Wednesday morning, ideally before 10 a.m. This timing can help you bypass the most congested periods and make your journey more efficient. Did it last year and it worked like a charm, so I am planning to repeat it this year. Safe travels!
I make the drive from RI to NC every year for the holidays and leave my house between 4-5 AM, usually hitting Jersey around 11 AM. Never really had a traffic issue in Jersey, usually it’s CT, but at 5 AM it’s pretty smooth sailing through there.
I would also recommend skipping the GW bridge and going Tappan Zee instead. It’s a bit longer but way less stressful.
Halloween.
Wednesday morning only if it’s before 6 or even 5. If you can’t make it that early, then certainly Tuesday evening.
Thanksgiving mid-morning. The roads are empty. I know it sounds like I’m being sarcastic, but I’m not kidding! In many places, it’s totally worth it. You sleep in your own bed, you get to drive on normally packed roads and enjoy the ride, and you show up in time for afternoon activities and dinner (depending on how early your group eats).