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        AAA: Here are the best times to beat the rush on the roads this holiday weekend

        News 12 spoke to drivers about their experience so far. Some say they are staying in the state or close by, while others are traveling hours away to reach their destination.

        Sarah Goode

        Nov 27, 2024, 1:27 PM

        Updated 7 days ago

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        =Wednesday is one of the busiest travel days for the Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA. The agency says the busy window was Wednesday afternoon from 1 p.m. through 5 p.m.
        News 12 spoke to drivers about their experience so far. Some say they are staying in the state or close by, while others are traveling hours away to reach their destination.
        Most people are telling News 12 that the roads have not been as crazy as they expected.
        “The roads weren’t bad. I mean we had to travel the [Belt Parkway] so that is always crazy,” said one driver from Long Island.
        “A little bit of traffic, but not so bad," said another driver.
        “So far, not as bad as we thought. We were very like, 'get out right now,’ otherwise who knows what’ll happen," another driver told News 12.
        AAA says almost 1.8 million New Jersey travelers drove to make it to their holiday destinations and over 70 million nationally.
        "We're going to Williamsburg," said a driver headed to Virginia.
        “We are traveling to our Aunt Maria’s house in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania to have a delicious feast," said another traveler.
        AAA says Thanksgiving Day will be a light travel day with little traffic.
        They say the worst times to travel are Friday morning between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and Saturday evening from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.
        There are some nerves about the return trip.
        “I'm going to go super early Sunday morning with the hope of beating the traffic,” said one driver from Albany.
        Most drivers tell News 12 that despite the traffic, they are happy to be going away for the holiday.
        “We’re going to go back to Pennsylvania to see my cousins and grandma,” said one traveler.
        “Worth it for the holidays. And, be with family we haven’t been with in about five years. It’ll be great, we’re happy about it," said one traveler headed to Delaware.
        To avoid any extra chaos on the road, keep an eye on the busy travel windows, and be sure to give yourself extra time to get to your holiday destination and then back home safely.