Are you traveling for the Fourth of July? Here's when Wisconsin traffic will be at its worst
Tens of millions of people will hit the road to travel domestically for the Fourth of July this year — so if you're one of them, you might want to plan ahead to avoid traffic.
Between June 28 and July 6, a record 72.2 million people nationwide are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home, according to AAA projections. That's an increase of 1.7 million travelers from 2024.
Nearly 62 million of those people will be traveling by car. If you're planning a July 4 road trip, here are the peak congestion times to avoid, including the worst times to travel to and from Wisconsin:
AAA compiled data from INRIX, a transportation analytics company, on the best and worst times to travel by car during the Fourth of July weekend. Generally, the company found that setting out in the morning is your best chance to beat the traffic.
Here are the best times to travel during the holiday:
Saturday, June 28: Before 10 a.m.
Sunday, June 29: Before 11 a.m.
Monday, June 30: Before noon
Tuesday, July 1: Before 2 p.m.
Wednesday, July 2: Before noon
Thursday, July 3: Before noon
Friday, July 4: Before noon
Saturday, July 5: Before 11 a.m.
Sunday, July 6: Before 11 a.m.
Business news: Are any local Pick 'n Save stores closing? Here's what we know.
INRIX predicted that July 2 and July 6 will be the most congested days on the roads as people head to and from their destinations. The afternoons will see the worst traffic, particularly on those two days.
Here are the worst times to travel during the July 4 weekend:
Saturday, June 28: Between noon and 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 29: Between 2 and 4 p.m.
Monday, June 30: Between 2 and 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 1: Between 3 and 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 2: Between noon and 9 p.m.
Thursday, July 3: Between 2 and 6 p.m.
Friday, July 4: Between noon and 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 5: Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 6: Between noon and 6 p.m.
More: Recent death in Manitowoc County after silo collapse shows how dangerous farm work can be
Here are the peak congestion times if you're traveling to and from Wisconsin during the holiday weekend.
Milwaukee to Chicago: Traveling from Milwaukee to Chicago, peak congestion will be on eastbound Interstate 94 on Sunday, July 6, at 2:30 p.m. INRIX did not provide data on travel from Chicago to Milwaukee.
Eau Claire to Minneapolis: Peak congestion traveling from Minneapolis to Eau Claire will be on eastbound I-94 on Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m. Traveling from Eau Claire back to Minneapolis, peak congestion will be on westbound I-94 on Sunday, July 6, at 3:45 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Fourth of July traffic in Wisconsin: The best and worst travel times
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