Orbit Thanksgiving in Michigan: when to leave
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026. 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 Nov 18. This page fills in on its own then, and updates every 30 minutes through the holiday.
| Drive | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thanksgiving Day | Sunday, coming home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit to ChicagoI-94 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to Grand RapidsI-96 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to Traverse CityI-75 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to Mackinaw CityI-75 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to ClevelandI-75 and I-80/90 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to ColumbusUS-23 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to CincinnatiI-75 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to IndianapolisI-94 and I-69 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Grand Rapids to ChicagoI-196 and I-94 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to MarquetteI-75, US-2 and M-94 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to PetoskeyI-75 and US-31 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to MuskegonI-96 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to Port HuronI-94 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to PittsburghI-75, I-80/90 and I-76 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Detroit to NashvilleI-75, I-71 and I-65 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Lansing to ChicagoI-69 and I-94 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Lansing to Traverse CityUS-127 and US-131 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Grand Rapids to Traverse CityUS-131 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Grand Rapids to Mackinaw CityUS-131 and US-31 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Port Huron to ColdwaterI-69 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
| Ann Arbor to Traverse CityUS-23 and I-75 | From Nov 18 | From Nov 19 | From Nov 20 | From Nov 23 |
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 Thanksgiving in Michigan?
It depends on the drive and the weather. The National Weather Service forecast opens about a week out, from Nov 18, and this page then shows the best window to leave on each drive.
What are the busiest Thanksgiving driving days?
The busiest driving days of the year are the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after.
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.