Best and Worst Days to Travel for Fourth of July Weekend in Michigan

If you're thinking about heading up north for Fourth of July weekend, you should probably leave now.

Okay, maybe not right now, but with the holiday falling on a Saturday this year, a lot of Michigan drivers will be hitting the road at the same time, and that could get messy fast.

According to WXYZ-TV Detroit, more than 2.6 million Michiganders are expected to travel by car between Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, July 5.

See Also: Who’s Responsible for Removing Dead Deer From Michigan’s Roads?

Worst Days to Travel for Fourth of July Weekend in Michigan

I think the most obvious worst day to travel will be Friday, July 3.

That’s when a ton of people will be leaving work, packing up the car, and heading out for the holiday weekend all at once. Around Michigan, that usually means heavier traffic on major routes like I-75, US-23, and I-96, especially for anyone heading Up North.

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If you can avoid traveling on July 3, I would.

Sunday, July 5, could also be rough since that’s when a lot of people will be making the trip back home.

Best Days to Travel in Michigan for July 4 Weekend

If you’ve got some flexibility, there are definitely better options.

Monday or Tuesday before the holiday are probably your best bets since not as many people will be hitting the road that early.

Wednesday probably won’t be brutal, but you’ll definitely notice heavier traffic and could run into some delays.

Once Thursday hits, it’s game on.

Best Time of Day to Travel During Fourth of July Weekend

If you’re only leaving for the weekend, early Saturday morning on July 4 might actually be one of the better times to go. Sure, it doesn’t give you much time to enjoy the weekend, but it beats sitting in traffic on I-75 Friday evening.

To avoid the most congested travel times, AAA recommends leaving before noon on most days if possible, including before 11 a.m. on Friday, July 3.