the drive to/from NJ/NYC at Thanksgiving - recos requested
 

Hello all

I'll be spending Turkey Day with friends in their new home in NJ. I live in DC.

Can anyone tell me, speaking from experience, if I would be better off leaving Wednesday morning (around 9-10 AM) or Thursday morning around say 8 AM? I know Wednesday is a gawdawful mess, I wasn't sure if Thanksgiving day gets a lot of runoff for 'short' trips due to the day-before mess, or not. I would be on 95 for at least half of it - so competing with folks who go to Philly as well as NJ/NYC for the hols.

same question coming back - when is the best time to come back - will early Sunday (before 9 AM) make a difference or does everyone have the same idea?

thank you!

I would leave around midnite on Wednesday going up and Midnite around Saturday returning if I had to drive.

Best case scenerio I would take the train.

I think the traffic is a nightmare starting Tuesday night! Anytime Wed is awful as well as Thursday.
If you are driving past Newark Airport there will be traffic too.
Can you take the train? Might be the best bet.
I read that the worst travel days for flying are Wed before and Sun after. Then the next worse are Tues before and Friday.

flygirl - I sympathize! I live in DC and my family meets in CT for Thanksgiving - luckily, we all hate fighting traffic so we actually celebrated the holiday this past weekend!

Thanksgiving morning will be just as bad as Wednesday. If you have to drive, GoTravel has the best idea, if you can stay awake and drive at night. Scarlett has a great idea if you can take Amtrak - that would be crowded but at least you'd be moving!

Coming back - yes, everyone has the same idea. You'd be better off coming home Saturday, not Sunday.

Good luck and happy Thanksgiving!
Karen

thank you! I may do that - late late. or, maybe get up at 4 and leave at 5 am on Thursday. or just take the train. may be the easiest all the way around...

Karen, my family was down this past wkd for an early TG too - which is why I won't be driving home, but since I have a 4 day wkd I wanted to make the most of it...

to be cont'd...