Google is constantly mapping our lives, that includes getting us through the holidays.
For millions of Atlantans and Georgians, Thanksgiving means turkey, parades, 10Ks, family, and the road-trip to reach it all. While everyone’s final holiday destination is unique, there are many common stops along the way.
As Atlantans begin making their travel plans this holiday season, Google Maps is providing insight into the places people visit around the holidays, when to visit them, and the best times to get on (or stay off) the road.
Google wants to share some Thanksgiving info:
Most popular places visited during the Thanksgiving holiday:
To gain a better understanding of the places people intend to visit throughout the holidays, we analyzed the number of times users requested directions to a location using Google Maps.
Here are Georgia’s own holiday rushes, determined by the state’s most popularly searched place categories:
Top overall search during Thanksgiving week: School
Top search on Wednesday: Beer Store
Top search on Thanksgiving: School
Top search on Friday: Garden Center
How do those places compare with the rest of the country’s searches? Nationally, the top uniquely searched place categories in Google Maps during the Thanksgiving holiday period are: outlet mall, tree farm, scenic overlook, video game store and place of worship.
Thanksgiving travel traffic trends:
Atlantans may be used to traffic patterns during a typical week, but holiday travelers move on a different schedule. So, when’s the rush this holiday travel season? For Atlanta, here are the best and worst times to leave for and return from Thanksgiving road trips:
Best day to leave: Thanksgiving day, 6 a.m.
Worst day to leave: Wednesday, 3 p.m.
Best day to return: Sunday, 6 a.m.
Worst day to return: Sunday, 4 p.m.
Best time to visit popular businesses and places:
Based on categorical searches in Google Maps, here’s a look at when popular places tend to be the most crowded — so Atlantans can make plans, avoid the lines and save time:
Bakery: Visits peak midday Wednesday as people prep for Thanksgiving dinner. Can’t forget to bring the dessert!
Grocery Store: Last-minute shoppers storm grocery stores on Wednesday afternoon.
Liquor Store: Visits peak on Wednesday afternoon as people start stocking up for the festivities.
Movie Theater: Friday evening is a popular time to head to the movies.
Shopping Center: Unsurprisingly, Black Friday afternoon is when stores are most crowded.
For more information about national and city-specific Thanksgiving travel and traffic trends, visit www.mappingthanksgiving.com.
If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can use local knowledge of drivers from taxi companies like Atlanta Checker Cab to get around the area.
And have a safe Thanksgiving.
