Traffic Predict

Christmas Traffic in Bay Area: Best and Worst Times to Drive (2026)

Based on 10 years of Christmas traffic (2016–2025), the worst time to drive in the San Francisco Bay Area is Tuesday (December 22 this year) around 5 pm, when freeways average 57 mph instead of the usual 55 mph.

Day by day

Hour by hour

Average freeway speed (mph) in Bay Area by day and hour, 2016–2025
Day5am6am7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm9pm
Tue Dec 226763626262616161605958585760646667
Wed Dec 236763636363636261605959595861656768
Thu Dec 246866666666666564646363636264666768
Fri Dec 256866666666666665656464646364656668
Sat Dec 266965656565646363636262616063666768
Sun Dec 276864636363636262626160606063666768

Averages of every hour of freeway data we have for these days in past years (hover a cell for a normal day). Dates are this year's; each past year is lined up on its own holiday.

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Questions

When is the worst time to drive for Christmas in Bay Area?

Based on 10 years of Christmas traffic (2016–2025), the worst time to drive in the San Francisco Bay Area is Tuesday (December 22 this year) around 5 pm, when freeways average 57 mph instead of the usual 55 mph.

What is Christmas traffic like in Bay Area?

Tuesday, December 22: about like a normal Tuesday; slowest around 5 pm (57 mph, usually 55 mph). Wednesday, December 23: about like a normal Wednesday; slowest around 5 pm (58 mph, usually 55 mph). Thursday, December 24: lighter than a normal Thursday; slowest around 5 pm (62 mph, usually 55 mph). Friday, December 25: lighter than a normal Friday; slowest around 5 pm (63 mph, usually 54 mph). Saturday, December 26: lighter than a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 54 mph). Sunday, December 27: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 55 mph).