Tuesday is your best bet for avoiding crowds in peak summer.

Tuesday.

Most people arrive Friday or Saturday and leave Sunday or Monday. Monday is still a travel day in both directions. By Tuesday, the weekend crowd has gone home and the next wave hasn’t arrived yet. Wednesday and Thursday are close seconds, but Tuesday is the dead zone.

If you’re aiming for a specific spot like a national park or beach town, check their local events calendar first — a Tuesday during a holiday week or local festival will still be packed. Otherwise, Tuesday is your quietest shot.

Go any weekday if you can. Even peak summer, a Tuesday beats a Saturday by a mile.