Best, Worst Thanksgiving Travel Times In Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD — Planning to hit the road for Thanksgiving, but dreading the traffic that goes along with that on Maryland's packed roads? Google wants to help.

The search and Web services giant has mapped out traffic and search trends for major cities, including the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. region, and has some advice on the best, and worst, times to hit the road this year. Much like trying to make it to the Eastern Shore on a summer holiday, the best times to leave are in the middle of the night, literally.

On your way out of town, Google suggests the best time to leave will be 3 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, according to the company's results. The worst time? Traffic is going to be a turkey if you leave around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Google says.

When you're on your way home, an early start on Friday is your best bet, which doesn't give you much time at grandmother's house. Get going at 4 a.m. on Friday and you'll be in good shape. Wait until Saturday at 4 p.m., though, and a stuffing-and-cranberries hangover won't be your only problem.

The rest of the country follows similar trends. According to Google, late Wednesday afternoon will be the busiest time on the road, while Thanksgiving morning will be the best. If you can't do Saturday morning, early Sunday may be your next best bet. Avoid both Friday and Saturday afternoons though, Google says.

Google, of course, is also keeping an eye on what folks are searching for online during the holiday season. In Baltimore, the top search categories during the Thanksgiving season have been — food and drinks, such as bakeries and where to buy wine, plus entertainment, such as movie-theater information.

Nationwide, the searches that spike around Thanksgiving, according to Google, are pretty easy to figure out — ham shops, outlet malls, tree farms, natural features and electronics stores.

To see more, check out Google's Mapping Thanksgiving page.

Patch file photo