Getting out of town for Labor Day weekend? Leave early Thursday.
Why it matters: Peak holiday congestion could add serious time to your trip.
Zoom in: Westbound traffic out of Metro Detroit is expected to see the most congestion, according to transportation data firm INRIX, which works with AAA to calculate travel times.
Detroit to Grand Rapids on I-96 is projected to take 3 hours and 28 minutes around 4:45pm Thursday — 37% longer than normal.
The big picture: Sunday is expected to be the easiest day to drive, with minimal traffic, per INRIX.
Gas prices: Road trippers also face higher gas prices this Labor Day than last year, when the national average was $3.19 a gallon, per AAA.
Regular gas in Wayne County on Monday was $4.13 a gallon on average.
The bottom line: When in doubt, hit the road early.