Orbit Fourth of July in Michigan: when to leave
Fourth of July is Sunday, July 4, 2027. For 21 popular drives from Michigan, the best time to leave each travel day and the hour to avoid, from the National Weather Service forecast at each town when you'd reach it.
The forecasts open about a week out, from Jun 27. This page fills in on its own then, and updates every 30 minutes through the holiday.
| Drive | Saturday | Sunday | Monday, coming home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit to ChicagoI-94 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to Grand RapidsI-96 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to Traverse CityI-75 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to Mackinaw CityI-75 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to ClevelandI-75 and I-80/90 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to ColumbusUS-23 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to CincinnatiI-75 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to IndianapolisI-94 and I-69 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Grand Rapids to ChicagoI-196 and I-94 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to MarquetteI-75, US-2 and M-94 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to PetoskeyI-75 and US-31 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to MuskegonI-96 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to Port HuronI-94 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to PittsburghI-75, I-80/90 and I-76 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Detroit to NashvilleI-75, I-71 and I-65 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Lansing to ChicagoI-69 and I-94 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Lansing to Traverse CityUS-127 and US-131 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Grand Rapids to Traverse CityUS-131 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Grand Rapids to Mackinaw CityUS-131 and US-31 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Port Huron to ColdwaterI-69 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
| Ann Arbor to Traverse CityUS-23 and I-75 | From Jun 27 | From Jun 28 | From Jun 29 |
Departure times from 5 AM to 9 PM, local time. "Coming home" is the same drive the other way. Open a drive for every town, the temperatures and rain chances.
Questions
When is the best time to leave for Fourth of July in Michigan?
It depends on the drive and the weather. The National Weather Service forecast opens about a week out, from Jun 27, and this page then shows the best window to leave on each drive.
What are the busiest Fourth of July driving days?
The days around the Fourth are among the busiest summer driving days.
How is the best time worked out?
For every hour from 5 AM to 9 PM, the forecast at each town along the drive at the time you would reach it. Snow, ice and thunderstorms count most, then rain and fog. Between equally good hours, the one with more of the drive in daylight wins.
Where does the forecast come from?
The National Weather Service hourly forecast for each town, refreshed about every 30 minutes. Times assume steady highway driving without traffic or stops.