Here are the best and worst times to travel the Fourth of July weekend in Ohio

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One of the busiest travel weeks of the year has arrived as Ohioans prepare to celebrate America's 249th birthday.

The Ohio Department of Transportation shared charts on social media this week highlighting the expected traffic on the freeways for each day of the holiday week across the major cities.

For Columbus, motorists can expect moderate traffic most of Thursday afternoon and evening before the roads get emptier during the holiday. Traffic will pick up again Sunday and Monday during normal rush hour times.

Click here to see a full list of Fourth of July celebrations planned across central Ohio.

Anyone planning on driving in Cincinnati and Cleveland should try to hit the roads early in an effort to avoid moderate traffic. ODOT estimates both cities will have congested roads Wednesday late afternoon, while Cincinnati's traffic congestion will sustain for much of Thursday evening.

The worst traffic for the week is expected to be in the Akron/Canton area on Wednesday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ODOT said traffic will be heavy on Interstates 77, 76, 277, and other major arteries around northeast Ohio.

ODOT also shared necessary safety tips ahead of the holiday weekend and warn drivers to plan ahead to arrive at your destination early and to keep an eye on construction areas. You can watch a report on safety tips in the video player above.