COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio Department of Transportation has released its traffic projections for Thanksgiving week in Columbus and other major cities in the state.
Columbus will see the heaviest traffic of Thanksgiving week on Tuesday, according to ODOT. The agency advises travelers to avoid the roads between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Saturday before Thanksgiving will experience “mild” traffic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and Monday are expected to see “standard” traffic all day. Wednesday may see moderate traffic from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the agency suggesting drivers avoid the roads during that time.
Thanksgiving and Black Friday are projected to experience minimal traffic all day. Saturday, Nov. 30, is expected to see standard traffic all day, and Sunday, Dec. 1, is expected to see mild traffic from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Traffic will clear up again on Monday, Dec. 2.
Which days and times are the worst to drive on Thanksgiving week changes throughout different parts of the state. Traffic projections for each major Ohio city can be found below.
Cincinnati Thanksgiving week traffic
- Saturday, Nov. 23 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 24 – Light traffic all day
- Monday, Nov. 25 – Heavy traffic, with the worst time to drive between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 26 – Heavy traffic, with the worst time to drive between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Moderate traffic, with the worst time to drive between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 28 – Light traffic all day
- Friday, Nov. 29 – Light traffic all day
- Saturday, Nov. 30 – Standard traffic all day
- Sunday, Dec. 1 – Moderate traffic, with the worst time to drive between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 2 – Light traffic all day
Cleveland Thanksgiving week traffic
- Saturday, Nov. 23 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 24 – Moderate traffic, with the worst time to drive between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 25 – Heavy traffic, with the worst time to drive between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 26 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 28 – Light traffic all day
- Friday, Nov. 29 – Light traffic all day
- Saturday, Nov. 30 – Standard traffic all day
- Sunday, Dec. 1 – Standard traffic all day
- Monday, Dec. 2 – Heavy traffic, with the worst time to drive between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Dayton Thanksgiving week traffic
- Saturday, Nov. 23 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 24 – Standard traffic all day
- Monday, Nov. 25 – Heavy traffic, with the worst time to drive between 1 p.m.. and 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 26 – Moderate traffic, with the worst times to drive between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., as well as between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Heavy traffic, with the worst time to drive between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 28 – Light traffic all day
- Friday, Nov. 29 – Light traffic all day
- Saturday, Nov. 30 – Standard traffic all day
- Sunday, Dec. 1 – Standard traffic all day
- Monday, Dec. 2 – Heavy traffic, with the worst time to drive between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Toledo Thanksgiving week traffic
- Saturday, Nov. 23 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
- Sunday, Nov. 24 – Standard traffic all day
- Monday, Nov. 25 – Moderate traffic, with the worst time to drive between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., as well as between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 26 – Moderate traffic, with the worst times to drive between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., as well as between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Moderate traffic, with the worst time to drive between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 28 – Light traffic all day
- Friday, Nov. 29 – Light traffic all day
- Saturday, Nov. 30 – Light traffic all day
- Sunday, Dec. 1 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.
- Monday, Dec. 2 – Standard traffic all day
Akron/Canton Thanksgiving week traffic
- Saturday, Nov. 23 – Standard traffic all day
- Sunday, Nov. 24 – Standard traffic all day
- Monday, Nov. 25 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 26 – Moderate traffic, with the worst times to drive between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., as well as between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 27 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
- Thursday, Nov. 28 – Light traffic all day
- Friday, Nov. 29 – Light traffic all day
- Saturday, Nov. 30 – Standard traffic all day
- Sunday, Dec. 1 – Standard traffic all day
- Monday, Dec. 2 – Standard traffic all day
