Orbit Memorial Day in Michigan: when to leave
Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 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 May 22. This page fills in on its own then, and updates every 30 minutes through the holiday.
| Drive | Friday | Saturday | Monday, coming home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit to ChicagoI-94 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to Grand RapidsI-96 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to Traverse CityI-75 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to Mackinaw CityI-75 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to ClevelandI-75 and I-80/90 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to ColumbusUS-23 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to CincinnatiI-75 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to IndianapolisI-94 and I-69 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Grand Rapids to ChicagoI-196 and I-94 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to MarquetteI-75, US-2 and M-94 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to PetoskeyI-75 and US-31 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to MuskegonI-96 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to Port HuronI-94 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to PittsburghI-75, I-80/90 and I-76 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Detroit to NashvilleI-75, I-71 and I-65 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Lansing to ChicagoI-69 and I-94 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Lansing to Traverse CityUS-127 and US-131 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Grand Rapids to Traverse CityUS-131 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Grand Rapids to Mackinaw CityUS-131 and US-31 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Port Huron to ColdwaterI-69 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
| Ann Arbor to Traverse CityUS-23 and I-75 | From May 22 | From May 23 | From May 25 |
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 Memorial Day in Michigan?
It depends on the drive and the weather. The National Weather Service forecast opens about a week out, from May 22, and this page then shows the best window to leave on each drive.
What are the busiest Memorial Day driving days?
Memorial Day weekend starts the summer driving season.
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.