Best and Worst Times to Travel in Michigan This Thanksgiving

Traveling during the holidays can be an absolute nightmare, especially if you pick the wrong times to hit the road. The last thing you want to endure is bumper-to-bumper traffic with a car full of screaming kids.

When it comes to holiday travel, Thanksgiving is by far the busiest. According to Inrix, if you picked today or tomorrow to travel, you made a big mistake. The two days leading up to Thanksgiving are the busiest travel days. This year is expected to break records, with more travelers hitting the roads. If you haven't left yet, prepare for a rude awakening behind the wheel.

Before we dive into the worst times to hit the road, let’s check out the best times to drive.

Best Times to Drive:

Monday, Nov. 25 - before 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26 - before 10 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 27 - before 10 a.m.
Thanksgiving - Pretty much any time—traffic should be a breeze.
Friday, Nov. 29 - after 1 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30 - before 1 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 1 - before 1 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 2 - before 8 a.m., after 7 p.m.

See Also: Michigan Is Home to the World’s Largest Log Cabin

Worst Times to Drive

Monday, Nov. 25 - 1–5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26 - 1–7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 27 - 1–5 p.m.
Thanksgiving - Pretty much any time—you're good to go.
Friday, Nov. 29 - 7–10 a.m.
Saturday, Nov. 30 - 4–8 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 1 - noon to 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 2 - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

If you are traveling this week, be safe and keep your phone out of your face while you're behind the wheel.