Black Friday shoppers heading to Roosevelt Field Mall Friday night found the biggest challenge wasn’t the checkout line - it was getting into the parking lot.

Drivers say it took forever to get from the parkways to the mall entrances as crowds poured in. One shopper said traffic was so heavy her GPS rerouted her off major roads and onto back streets.

Others said the only way to avoid the chaos was to arrive before the rush.

Many shoppers spent more time circling the lot than expected, with some waiting up to half an hour for a parking spot.

A minor collision in the Nordstrom parking area briefly slowed cars exiting the mall.

Shoppers told News 12 they believe a return to in-person shopping led to larger crowds this year.

While Friday’s backups have eased, holiday shopping traffic is expected to continue through December. Shoppers say the best advice is simple: arrive early.