Watching Thanksgiving Day parades in person takes a little planning, especially in cities that attract huge holiday crowds.

Whether you're heading to New York City for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or Philadelphia for the ABC Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Parade, here's what to know about arrival times, transportation, viewing spots and spectator tips.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending, breaking and service-related topics across the Mid-Atlantic region for the USA Today Network.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When you should arrive to watch NYC, Philly Thanksgiving Day parades