Labor Day weekend Traffic in Bay Area: Best and Worst Times to Drive (2027)
Based on 9 past Labor Day weekends (2016–2025, leaving out 2020), freeways across the San Francisco Bay Area are no slower than usual over Labor Day weekend; the busiest time is Friday (September 3 this year) around 3 pm, at 55 mph (usually 55 mph). The holiday jams are on the roads out of town: SR-152 East (Monday around 4 pm: 32 mph instead of 61 mph).
Freeways hit hardest
The hour each freeway direction slows the most against a normal day, averaged over the same years:
- SR-152 East: Monday around 4 pm: 32 mph instead of 61 mph.
- I-205 West: Monday around 4 pm: 45 mph instead of 65 mph.
- SR-17 South: Sunday around 10 am: 44 mph instead of 61 mph.
- SR-156 East: Saturday around 1 pm: 39 mph instead of 54 mph.
- SR-25 South: Friday around 8 pm: 48 mph instead of 62 mph.
- SR-17 North: Sunday around 9 pm: 52 mph instead of 66 mph.
Day by day
- Friday, September 3: about like a normal Friday; slowest around 3 pm (55 mph, usually 55 mph).
- Saturday, September 4: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 12 pm (61 mph, usually 61 mph).
- Sunday, September 5: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 1 pm (61 mph, usually 62 mph).
- Monday, September 6: lighter than a normal Monday; slowest around 3 pm (64 mph, usually 57 mph).
Hour by hour
| Day | 5am | 6am | 7am | 8am | 9am | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | 4pm | 5pm | 6pm | 7pm | 8pm | 9pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri Sep 3 | 68 | 62 | 60 | 58 | 60 | 61 | 60 | 60 | 59 | 57 | 55 | 55 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 65 | 67 |
| Sat Sep 4 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 65 | 63 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 65 | 67 |
| Sun Sep 5 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 64 | 62 | 62 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 63 | 63 | 64 | 64 | 63 | 67 |
| Mon Sep 6 | 68 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 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 Labor Day weekend in Bay Area?
Based on 9 past Labor Day weekends (2016–2025, leaving out 2020), freeways across the San Francisco Bay Area are no slower than usual over Labor Day weekend; the busiest time is Friday (September 3 this year) around 3 pm, at 55 mph (usually 55 mph). The holiday jams are on the roads out of town: SR-152 East (Monday around 4 pm: 32 mph instead of 61 mph).
What is Labor Day weekend traffic like in Bay Area?
Friday, September 3: about like a normal Friday; slowest around 3 pm (55 mph, usually 55 mph). Saturday, September 4: about like a normal Saturday; slowest around 12 pm (61 mph, usually 61 mph). Sunday, September 5: about like a normal Sunday; slowest around 1 pm (61 mph, usually 62 mph). Monday, September 6: lighter than a normal Monday; slowest around 3 pm (64 mph, usually 57 mph).