Orbit New Year's in Michigan: when to leave
New Year's is Friday, January 1, 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 Dec 25. This page fills in on its own then, and updates every 30 minutes through the holiday.
| Drive | Thursday | Friday, coming home |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit to ChicagoI-94 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to Grand RapidsI-96 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to Traverse CityI-75 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to Mackinaw CityI-75 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to ClevelandI-75 and I-80/90 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to ColumbusUS-23 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to CincinnatiI-75 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to IndianapolisI-94 and I-69 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Grand Rapids to ChicagoI-196 and I-94 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to MarquetteI-75, US-2 and M-94 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to PetoskeyI-75 and US-31 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to MuskegonI-96 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to Port HuronI-94 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to PittsburghI-75, I-80/90 and I-76 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Detroit to NashvilleI-75, I-71 and I-65 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Lansing to ChicagoI-69 and I-94 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Lansing to Traverse CityUS-127 and US-131 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Grand Rapids to Traverse CityUS-131 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Grand Rapids to Mackinaw CityUS-131 and US-31 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Port Huron to ColdwaterI-69 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
| Ann Arbor to Traverse CityUS-23 and I-75 | From Dec 25 | From Dec 26 |
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 New Year's in Michigan?
It depends on the drive and the weather. The National Weather Service forecast opens about a week out, from Dec 25, and this page then shows the best window to leave on each drive.
What are the busiest New Year's driving days?
New Year's Eve afternoon and New Year's Day are the big driving times.
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.