Cleveland Has the Worst Pre-Thanksgiving Traffic in the Country, But it Can Be Avoided

It's not all in your head, Cleveland has the highest concentration of Thanksgiving traffic in the country the day prior to the holiday, a Google Trends analysis called Mapping Thanksgiving recently discovered.

According to the data, more people are traveling through/from the Cleveland area than in any spot in America the day before Turkey Day, in presumably an attempt to meet up with loved ones in other parts of the state or country, as compared to area traffic patterns on a regular Wednesday. Google Trends even suggests that leaving for your Thanksgiving destination from Cleveland at 4 p.m. today is pretty much the worst idea you've ever had.

But there's a simple solution — besides banging your head against your car window and calling your mom to tell her you can't make it — leave Thursday morning. This way you get to sleep in your own luscious bed the night before all while avoiding the shitshow highway parking lot.

The rest of the weekend, feel free to take it easy, with family or not. Whatever you do, just don't drive back to Cleveland on Sunday (see below).