The Best (and Worst) Times to Travel and Do Your Shopping

If there's anything that can make you lose that relaxed vacation vibe, it's dealing with crowds—whether it's long lines at the airport, major traffic jams, or Black Friday shopping over the holidays. So your best bet? Use some sneaky data to help you plan your next travel or shopping excursion so you miss the peak crowds.

While it's pretty much impossible to avoid all crowds if you're traveling or shopping during busy times of year like the holidays or summer breaks, we turned to some of the top travel sites—including Google, KAYAK, and Expedia—to get some helpful data that can help you plan your errands and travels a bit more strategically. Keep reading to avoid chaotic crowds and long waits.

The Best Time to Hit the Road Around Summer Holidays
Summer is chock full of holidays that give you a little extra time to relax. Whether you're traveling for Memorial Day, 4th of July, or Labor Day, you want to avoid heading out the day before the holiday proper—especially after 2 p.m., as that's when the traffic hits in earnest. The traffic can also be busy the night before a holiday (such as the Thursday leading into the Labor Day or Memorial Day weekend), as people tend to add an extra day to get an extended, four-day getaway. As for traveling home, avoid mid-day on the holiday proper (i.e. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

If you're flying for a holiday weekend getaway, Kayla Inserra DeLoache, KAYAK's consumer travel trends expert suggests leaving the Wednesday before the holiday weekend for the cheapest and least busy travel, and as early in the day as possible to avoid potential flight delays that tend to get worse as the day goes on. "This is because this is before the vast majority of travelers are starting to head out for the long weekend," DeLoache says.

And while you may think the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the worst day to travel, the KAYAK data experts found that the Friday before Memorial Day weekend ranked as the busiest day of 2024.

How to Avoid Traffic and Busy Times During Summer Vacation
If you're traveling to a popular summer rental vacation spot, the traffic tends to be busiest on Friday nights, or Saturday mornings to mid-day, when many people are checking into or out of rentals. To avoid the crowds, consider seeking out rental homes that'll switch over at off times, such as a mid-week day or a Sunday.

If you're flying for your summer getaway, Expedia suggests Tuesday as the least busy day to hit the airport generally, and saving your summer vacation for August. Both Expedia and KAYAK say July is the busiest travel month, so waiting until August gives you a less busy vacation travel—and you're likely to score the cheapest economy tickets, too.

The Best Time to Hit the Road for Thanksgiving and Christmas
Depending on your plans and your available vacation time, you may not be able to control when you hit the road for Thanksgiving and Christmas travel. However, if you can, try to avoid driving on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving to avoid heavy traffic. Instead, try to start your trip a couple days earlier. According to Google, roads are clearest on the Sunday or Monday before Thanksgiving, around 8 p.m. And if you have to head out on Thanksgiving Day, Google recommends hitting the road before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. to avoid the worst traffic.

If you're driving to your destination for Christmas, Google recommends avoiding the roads between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the days leading up to the 25th, since that's when the roads are typically the most congested.
The Best Time to Go Shopping on Black Friday
Many people opt to shop online Black Friday deals these days, but if you do decide to shop in person, plan accordingly. According to Google, the roads are busiest on Black Friday between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., so try to plan your shopping sprees before or after these times.

The Busiest and Least Busy Times to Visit Popular Spots
Want to get your errands done in no time flat? Follow these Google tips for when you can get in and out of the most common shopping and errand spots.

Airport
Busiest: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays
Least busy: 7 a.m. on Sundays
Bakery
Busiest: 10-11 a.m. on Saturdays
Least busy: 8 a.m. on Mondays
Gas Station
Busiest: 4-5 p.m. on Fridays
Least busy: 7-8 a.m. on Sundays
Grocery Store
Busiest: 1 p.m. on Sundays
Least busy: 8 a.m. on Sundays
Post Office
Busiest: 2 p.m. on Fridays
Least busy: 3 p.m. on Saturdays
Shopping Center
Busiest: 1-2 p.m. on Saturdays
Least busy: 10 a.m. Monday
Salon
Busiest: 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturdays
Least busy: 6-7 p.m. on Sundays