SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Nearly 72 million travelers are expected to hit the road this week to travel by vehicle for the Thanksgiving holiday, AAA projections show. This is an increase of 1.3 million road travelers compared to last year. “Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,” said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. I-15 freeway temporarily shutdown as police stop large group of motorcycle riders When is the best time to hit the road? For those traveling by vehicle this week, there are certain times you may want to avoid hitting the open road. According to researchers at INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights, the timeframe that is expected to be the most congested is Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon. The best time to travel by car, however, is Thanksgiving Day itself as most people will have already arrived at their destinations beforehand, AAA officials explained. Here's a breakdown of the best and worst times to travel this week: Best and Worst Times to Travel by Car Date Worst Travel Time Best Travel Time Monday, Nov. 25 1-5 p.m.Before 11 a.m.Tuesday, Nov. 26 1-7 p.m.Before 10 a.m.Wednesday, Nov. 27 1-5 p.m.Before 10 a.m.Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day) Minimal Traffic Impact Expected    Friday, Nov. 29 7-10 a.m.After 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 4-8 p.m.Before 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 Noon to 6 p.m.Before 1 p.m.Monday, Dec, 2 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Before 8 a.m. / After 7 p.m. (AAA projections) “With a record number of travelers expected to be on the road, drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays,” said Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX. “This is especially important for drivers in metropolitan areas." San Diego Clippers team up with local food bank for turkey giveaway Other tips for the travel rush Anlleyn Venegas, a senior public affairs specialist for AAA, also suggests avoiding traveling at night this week as driver tends to be more drowsy in the late hours, especially after filling up on turkey and other Thanksgiving Day foods. "Drowsy driving can be almost as dangerous as impaired driving, so make sure you rest and sleep at least 7 hours before your trip," said Venegas. "If it's a long trip, every two hours take a break. Make sure you stretch." Another tip she offered up was for travelers to prepare an emergency kit with items like water, phone charger, snacks, and a blanket. These things could come in handy in the event of travel delays.