But if you’re leaving on Saturday, the best time to travel by car is in the afternoon, and if you’re returning on Sunday or Monday, you should leave as early as possible to avoid heavy congestion in the afternoon, AAA officials say.
If you want to avoid the worst traffic, don’t hit the road in the afternoon and evening on Thursday and Friday. Travel experts at AAA Northeast and INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, recommend driving in the morning on those days.
For motorists in Massachusetts, AAA officials say the best time to depart on Thursday is before 11 a.m., and the worst time will be between 1 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
On Friday, the best times to leave will be before noon or after 7 p.m., and the worst time will be the window between 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
Advertisement
On Saturday, Aug. 31, the best time to depart will be in the afternoon, and the worst times will be in the morning between the hours of 8 a.m.-11 a.m., according to AAA Northeast.
The best times to return are before noon Sunday, before 10 a.m. on Monday, and after 1 p.m. Tuesday — if you can squeeze in one more day off. The worst times for your return trip will be between 2 p.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday, between 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Monday, and from 8 a.m.-noon Tuesday, AAA officials say.
“The most severe traffic jams over holiday weekends almost always come as commuters mix with travelers,” said Mark Schieldrop, a spokesperson for AAA Northeast. “Road trippers can pave the way for smooth drives by strategically planning their departures around the best times to hit the road.”
One advantage drivers can look forward to is that they’ll pay less for gas compared to last year. The national average over Labor Day weekend in 2023 was $3.81 per gallon.
The current average in Massachusetts is $3.36 per gallon, according to Schieldrop.
Emily Sweeney can be reached at emily.sweeney@globe.com. Follow her @emilysweeney and on Instagram @emilysweeney22.