Traffic Predict
Christmas Traffic in Bay Area: Best and Worst Times to Drive (2026)
Based on 9 past Christmas (2016–2025, leaving out 2020), freeways across the San Francisco Bay Area are no slower than usual over Christmas; the busiest time is Tuesday (December 22 this year) around 5 pm, at 57 mph (usually 54 mph). The holiday jams are on the roads out of town: I-205 West (Saturday around 1 pm: 51 mph instead of 63 mph).
Freeways hit hardest
The hour each freeway direction slows the most against a normal day, averaged over the same years:
- I-205 West: Saturday around 1 pm: 51 mph instead of 63 mph.
- SR-152 East: Saturday around 5 pm: 54 mph instead of 62 mph.
- SR-25 South: Tuesday around 7 pm: 56 mph instead of 64 mph.
- SR-1 South: Tuesday around 12 pm: 50 mph instead of 58 mph.
- I-5 North: Saturday around 3 pm: 54 mph instead of 61 mph.
- SR-1 North: Friday around 3 pm: 53 mph instead of 60 mph.
Day by day
- Tuesday, December 22: about like a normal Tuesday; slowest around 5 pm (57 mph, usually 54 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 53 mph).
- Saturday, December 26: lighter than a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 53 mph).
- Sunday, December 27: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (59 mph, usually 54 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 | 60 | 60 | 59 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 60 | 64 | 66 | 67 |
| Wed Dec 23 | 67 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 58 | 61 | 65 | 67 | 68 |
| Thu Dec 24 | 68 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 64 | 66 | 67 | 68 |
| Fri Dec 25 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 68 |
| Sat Dec 26 | 69 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 61 | 61 | 60 | 62 | 66 | 67 | 68 |
| Sun Dec 27 | 68 | 64 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 60 | 60 | 59 | 62 | 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.
Bay Area traffic tomorrow · Bay Area traffic right now
Questions
When is the worst time to drive for Christmas in Bay Area?
Based on 9 past Christmas (2016–2025, leaving out 2020), freeways across the San Francisco Bay Area are no slower than usual over Christmas; the busiest time is Tuesday (December 22 this year) around 5 pm, at 57 mph (usually 54 mph). The holiday jams are on the roads out of town: I-205 West (Saturday around 1 pm: 51 mph instead of 63 mph).
What is Christmas traffic like in Bay Area?
Tuesday, December 22: about like a normal Tuesday; slowest around 5 pm (57 mph, usually 54 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 53 mph). Saturday, December 26: lighter than a normal Saturday; slowest around 5 pm (60 mph, usually 53 mph). Sunday, December 27: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 5 pm (59 mph, usually 54 mph).