Whether you're staying put or heading out, there's a lot to do Thanksgiving week. Here are some things to keep in mind as you navigate the crowds or get ready to hit the road for grandma's (or apparently the liquor store).

Going Big

More than 3.9 million Texans will travel 50 miles or more from home for the holiday, according to AAA Texas, the most since 2007. Analysts say an improved economy is the biggest factor, even as gasoline prices have increased incrementally in the past month. Nationally, fuel prices are the cheapest they've been since 2008, when they averaged $1.85 a gallon for unleaded gasoline.

Leave early or late

According to Waze, which tracks traffic trends, the worse times to head out are Tuesday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Around 2 p.m. will be the worst, the company predicted, based on previous years.

Sunday is not a fun day

Just as early trips don't hit as much traffic before gorging on turkey, the earlier people return on Sunday, the better, the Waza analysis shows.

Thanksgiving is travel day

It might sound surprising, but Thanksgiving is a great time to leave for Thanksgiving.

"Traffic is much lower and It is actually a nice window to make it to dinner on time," said Meghan Kelleher, a spokeswoman for Waze.

The app, which relies on a large community of people to report traffic conditions, can help steer people away from parade detours and other closings on the holiday, meaning a smooth trip, she said.

Departing for the Holiday:

Tuesday before - Slight increase of traffic between 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

- Slight increase of traffic between 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday before - High increase of traffic between 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with the highest peak at 2 p.m. Also see a 15% increase in accident alerts and 17% in hazard alerts.

- High increase of traffic between 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with the highest peak at 2 p.m. Also see a 15% increase in accident alerts and 17% in hazard alerts. Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) - Low usage all day, especially in the morning.

Returning:

Sunday after - App usage increases from 12:30pm until EOD. See a 111% increase in traffic jam alerts, 15% increase in accident alerts and 26% increase in hazard alerts

- App usage increases from 12:30pm until EOD. See a 111% increase in traffic jam alerts, 15% increase in accident alerts and 26% increase in hazard alerts If you must leave this day, hit the road early:

Monday after - A small increase in morning usage

Midday delay at airport

Expect traffic headed to Bush Intercontinental Airport to peak between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. most travel days, according to INRIX, another traffic forecasting service. If they are correct, the trip along U.S. 59 should take about 23 minutes during peak, so don't expect a lack of commuters to cut down on congestion.

Early Shoppers beware

Black Friday is a bleak time for traveling near major malls, such as The Galleria. INRIX predicts traffic around The Galleria will peak from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving. One can assume it won't really return to average traffic until January.

RELATED: Thanksgiving still a shopping day for many

Hot parking tips

Black Friday has gone high-tech to get people in and out of malls faster. GGP, owner of five Houston area malls including those in the Woodlands and Willowbrook, has added heat maps to its smartphone apps and websites for the individual properties. The maps allow someone to put in the store they plan to visit and get real-time information on which parking area they should aim at that has both available spaces and easy access to the store.

Stock up on pie

It's a burgeoning Thanksgiving tradition in the Houston area to search "pie shop" on Google Maps, according to the company. For the third year running, mapping the way to meringue via a "pie shop" query is the most searched location the day before Thanksgiving.

RELATED: Houston pastry chefs offer three ideas for great Thanksgiving pies

Looking for liquor

Once folks are finished with pie, they consistently search for "liquor store," according to the Google data. It is the fifth-most searched item on both Wednesday and Thursday of the holiday week.

Houston

Top 5 trending destination categories in Google Maps locally (starts with top trending):



Thanksgiving holiday period:

— Pie shop, city hall, outlet mall, electronics store, deli

Day before Thanksgiving:

— Pie shop, deli, city hall, nightclub, liquor store

Thanksgiving:

— City hall, buffet restaurant, outlet mall/store, electronics store, liquor store

Black Friday:

— Mattress store, outlet mall, electronics store, video game store, furniture store

RELATED: Houston Restaurants open for Thanksgiving dinner and to-go orders

The price of stuffing (your face)

A traditional Thanksgiving meal for ten is predicted to cost an average of $48.85 this year, according to the Texas Farm Bureau. Though turkey and cranberry sauce are expected to stay cost-neutral compared to last year, the farm bureau said pie shells, green beans and Texas' beloved pecans are all pricier