Are you traveling for the Fourth of July? Here's when traffic will be at its worst
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.
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.
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.
More: July 4 events in the Milwaukee area in 2025: Fireworks, parade times, things to do
More: When Milwaukee tried to make 4th of July celebrations 'Safe and Sane' to save lives
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Fourth of July traffic in Wisconsin: The best and worst travel times
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