Turkey traffic

November 22, 2011 6:53 PM

What's traffic like around NYC on Thanksgiving Day?

We're planning to visit someone on 218th St, arriving around 12:30-1 p.m., and can't agree on whether to drive all the way or park somewhere and take the train in. Is driving in likely to cause us serious delays? We're coming from upstate NY.

posted by Coventry to travel & transportation around New York, NY (9 answers total)

That far uptown you won't find a lot of traffic related to the parade and other stuff. I think you should be ok.
posted by dfriedman at 7:03 PM on November 22, 2011 [1 favorite]

Thanksgiving is really busy traffic in/around NYC (I think its the worst day of the year for driving but I don't have a citation for that), so although you won't hit parade traffic that far uptown it will most likely be slow going. 12:30-1ish is still early though. Give yourselves extra time if you can. Also, check out Gridlock Sam, he's our local traffic guy for one of the papers.
posted by cestmoi15 at 7:38 PM on November 22, 2011

Here's Gridlock Sam for Wed., I guess check back for Thurs, but it won't be pretty.
posted by cestmoi15 at 7:41 PM on November 22, 2011

I also think you will be fine, and have done a similar drive before. However, if it is feasible you should cross the Hudson further upstate, and then drive down through Westchester, rather than going over the GW Bridge (as mapquest invariably recommends). There is a bridge at Tarrytown; further upstate would be even better, but it of course depends on where you are coming from.
posted by susanvance at 8:16 PM on November 22, 2011

Take the train in. There are metro north stations up there. Traffic will be a nightmare.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:27 PM on November 22, 2011

The bridges and tunnels will be a nightmare.
posted by kestrel251 at 9:25 PM on November 22, 2011

Wednesday is worse than Thursday. On the other hand, it's really, really easy to get to 218th St by Metro-North, and tickets to the closest station (Marble Hill) are significantly cheaper than tickets to Grand Central. There's free holiday parking at Irvington. And no dealing with city parking. I would train it, probably, depending on how many in the car.

[This is 218th St in Manhattan, right, not the Bronx? Disregard my advice if not.]
posted by zvs at 10:01 PM on November 22, 2011

Every year I do the reverse. From the city out to the burbs. It's totally fine. Especially since you are just headed to the very northern tip of manhattan or the Bronx.
posted by JPD at 3:56 AM on November 23, 2011

Thanks for the advice, everyone. You've given me a lot more information for the decision.
posted by Coventry at 8:11 AM on November 23, 2011