These are the best and worst travel days for Christmas week in Columbus and around Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Ohio Department of Transportation has released its traffic projections for Christmas in Columbus and other major cities. 

Columbus will see the heaviest traffic on the Monday before Christmas, according to ODOT. The agency advises travelers to avoid driving during “heavy” traffic from 1 to 5 p.m.

The Sunday before Christmas will experience “mild” traffic from 6 to 7 p.m. Traffic on Christmas Eve through the Friday after Christmas is predicted to be “light.”

The weekend after Christmas, traffic will pick up with Saturday being “standard” and Sunday set at “mild,” likely due to holiday return trips to the city.

The days and times that are the worst to drive on Christmas week change throughout different parts of the state. Traffic projections for each major Ohio city can be found below. 

Cincinnati Christmas week traffic

• Sunday, Dec. 22 – Heavy traffic, with the worst time to drive between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 23 – Moderate traffic, with the worst time to drive between 1 and 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Light traffic all day
• Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Light traffic all day
• Thursday, Dec. 26 – Light traffic all day
• Friday, Dec. 27 – Light traffic all day
• Saturday, Dec. 28 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 1 and 3 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 29 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 5 and 6 p.m.

Cleveland Christmas week traffic 

• Sunday, Dec. 22 – Standard traffic all day
• Monday, Dec. 23 – Light traffic all day
• Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Light traffic all day
• Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Light traffic all day
• Thursday, Dec. 26 – Light traffic all day
• Friday, Dec. 27 – Light traffic all day
• Saturday, Dec. 28 – Standard traffic all day
• Sunday, Dec. 29 – Standard traffic all day

Dayton Christmas week traffic

• Sunday, Dec. 22 – Standard traffic all day
• Monday, Dec. 23 – Moderate traffic, with the worst time to drive between 4 and 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Standard traffic all day
• Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Light traffic all day
• Thursday, Dec. 26 – Light traffic all day
• Friday, Dec. 27 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 9 and 11 a.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 28 – Standard traffic all day
• Sunday, Dec. 29 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 1 and 2 p.m. and 7 and 8 p.m.

Toledo Christmas week traffic

• Sunday, Dec. 22 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between 3 and 4 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 23 – Standard traffic all day
• Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Standard traffic all day
• Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Light traffic all day
• Thursday, Dec. 26 – Light traffic all day
• Friday, Dec. 27 – Mild traffic, with the worst time to drive between noon and 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 28 – Standard traffic all day
• Sunday, Dec. 29 – Standard traffic all day

Akron/Canton Christmas week traffic

• Sunday, Dec. 22 – Standard traffic all day
• Monday, Dec. 23 – Moderate traffic, with the worst time to drive between 6 and 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Light traffic all day
• Wednesday, Dec. 25 – Light traffic all day
• Thursday, Dec. 26 – Light traffic all day
• Friday, Dec. 27 – Light traffic all day
• Saturday, Dec. 28 – Standard traffic all day
• Sunday, Dec. 29 – Standard traffic all day