The best and worst times to travel for Thanksgiving in the Boston area – The Boston Globe

AAA and the Massachusetts Division of Transportation have launched ideas enable you to keep away from the gridlock in your solution to vacation gatherings this Thanksgiving. And the strategies should not essentially what you’d count on.

Usually talking, each AAA and MassDOT agree that the worst time to hit the highway is Wednesday, when site visitors is predicted to be at its peak. However there’s one exception: The dreaded Southeast Expressway, which MassDOT predicts will see its heaviest quantity in each instructions all day Tuesday. MassDOT’s site visitors predictions are based mostly on historic journey instances and site visitors information from the identical interval in 2021, although the company cautions extra drivers could also be on the roads this 12 months.

To assist ease congestion, MassDOT will prolong the hours for the afternoon HOV lane between Boston and Quincy. The lane can be open from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. As well as, the Sumner Tunnel will stay open through the weekends surrounding the Thanksgiving vacation, based on the state transportation company.

Should you’re departing from Boston, right here’s a information to the very best instances to go away forward of Thanksgiving, based on MassDOT:

Heading north from Boston on I-93

MassDOT expects site visitors to start constructing as early as Monday afternoon, with congestion peaking from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. Officers are urging individuals to hit the highway early within the day to keep away from delays. Thursday is taken into account a superb day to journey with little to no site visitors.

Heading south from Boston on I-93

As any Boston driver little question is aware of, there are few good instances to courageous the Southeast Expressway, and Thanksgiving week isn’t any exception. MassDOT expects heavy site visitors congestion on the stretch between Boston and Braintree throughout daytime hours every day over Thanksgiving week. However site visitors is predicted to be notably thorny on Tuesday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. There are not any days designated by MassDOT as “good days” to journey on the Expressway.

Heading south on Route 3 between Braintree and Plymouth

For South Shore-bound vacationers, site visitors is predicted to be at its worst on Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., and there may be heavy site visitors on Thanksgiving day between 11 a.m. and a pair of p.m. The most effective day to go away is Monday, when congestion is predicted to be minor.

Heading south on I-95 between I-93 and the Rhode Island state line

Visitors might be heavy starting on Tuesday afternoon, based on MassDOT, and it’s anticipated to peak on Wednesday between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday is predicted to be the very best day to journey on 95.

Heading west on the Mass. Pike between I-495 and I-84

On the Mass. Pike, count on heavy site visitors congestion throughout this often-busy stretch starting on Tuesday and increasing throughout Sunday, with the worst day being Wednesday between 10 a.m and eight p.m.. Based on MassDOT, the very best time to go away on your journey on this highway is Monday.

Heading south on I-91 between the Mass. Pike and the Connecticut state line

For Connecticut-bound drivers, the site visitors image appears higher when you hit I-91. MassDOT expects some delays or minor congestion within the afternoons from Monday via Wednesday, with Thursday anticipated to be principally clear.

Christina Prignano will be reached at christina.prignano@globe.com. Observe her on Twitter @cprignano.