For long road trips, the best time is to drive is at night. There are fewer cars on the road, which leads to less congestion and fewer stressful situations. It also will allow a driver to cruise through a large metropolitan area, such as Chicago or Atlanta, without losing time for the typically backed-up highway systems. Typically, at 3 or 4 in the morning, the only other drivers on the road are truckers.
For those who work the normal business hours of 9 to 5, try to arrive at work a half hour early and leave a half hour early. You will still see some traffic, but in most cities traffic picks up as the time draws nearer to 9 and 5. The sooner you can leave, the better it will be to make it to your destination without being delayed.
When going on vacation during a busy holiday time such as Labor or Memorial Day, it is best to leave earlier in the week. If you can leave on Wednesday or Thursday, you will be able to beat the holiday traffic rush, which will begin to increase late Thursday and pick up on Friday and Saturday. No matter what holiday, always, if possible, leave several days beforehand.
