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These are the worst days and times for holiday travel in metro Detroit

Posted at 6:21 AM, Dec 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-12-12 11:04:19-05

(WXYZ) — More than 3.6 million Michiganders are expected to travel for the holidays this year, AAA Michigan reports.

AAA says more Americans than ever on record, 115.6 million, will travel this holiday season, from Sunday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. This is the most in nearly 20 years since AAA began tracking in 2000.

The worst of the delays are expected to be on Thursday, Dec. 26.

“Holiday cheer is at an all-time high this year, with unemployment at historically low levels, and noted improvements in both disposable income and household net worth,” said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson, AAA-The Auto Club Group. “Travelers in Michigan should be getting used to crowded highways and airports, as this marks the sixth straight year of new record-high travel volumes for the year-end holidays.”

AAA says 3.3 million Michiganders than ever on record will drive this holiday season, 201,773 Michiganders are expected to fly, and 112,687 will be on trains, buses and cruise ships.

For Detroit, the worst day to travel is Dec. 26 between the hours of 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.