Los Angeles's normal, everyday traffic is beastly, so it's safe to assume that Thanksgiving traffic is going to be pretty bad, too. After all, AAA has projected the highest number of Thanksgiving travelers in nearly a decade will be on the road and in the skies for the holiday.
With that in mind, try to make a bad situation better by avoiding times when traffic will be at the height of its terribleness. Google Maps has that information available for Angelenos gearing up to get behind the wheel this holiday week.
Seen via the New York Times, Google used last year's travel patterns to determine the best and worst times to be on the road in Los Angeles. Its analysts found that the best time to head out of town was 6 a.m. Sunday.
That day has, unfortunately, come and gone. But drivers can still avoid a total traffic snafu Wednesday by hitting the road before 5 p.m., which is the worst time to leave. If possible, try to get out of town before 6 a.m., when highways are bound to be the most clear that day. Yes, that is early, but it might be worth it.
Heading home this week, too? Google says leave early on Friday morning, like 6 a.m.-early. Around 4 p.m., the traffic is going to get backed up, so try to be off the road by then.
The absolute worst time to head home is 4 p.m. Saturday. Again, if heading home on Saturday is the plan, be sure to leave by 6 a.m. to avoid the most severe congestion.