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
- 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).
Hour by hour
| Day | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue Dec 22 | 67 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 60 | 64 | 66 | 67 |
| Wed Dec 23 | 67 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 58 | 61 | 65 | 67 | 68 |
| Thu Dec 24 | 68 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 64 | 66 | 67 | 68 |
| Fri Dec 25 | 68 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 68 |
| Sat Dec 26 | 69 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 63 | 66 | 67 | 68 |
| Sun Dec 27 | 68 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 63 | 66 | 67 | 68 |
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).